title: Spatial distribution of floating marine debris in offshore continental Portuguese waters.
abstract: This study presents data on abundance and density of macro-floating marine debris (FMD), including their composition, spatial distribution and potential sources off continental Portugal. FMD were assessed by shipboard visual surveys covering ±252,833 km(2) until the 220 nm limit. The FMD average density was 2.98 items/km(2) and abundance amounted to 752,740 items. Unidentified plastics constitute the major bulk of FMD (density=0.46 items/km(2); abundance=117,390 items), followed by styrofoam, derelict or lost materials from fisheries, paper/cardboard and wood material. The North sector of the area presents higher FMD diversity and abundances, probably as a result of the high number of navigation corridors and fisheries operating in that sector. Most FMD originate from local sources, namely discharges from vessels and derelict material from fisheries. Considering the identifiable items, cables and fishing lines were the only fishing related items among the top ten FMD items in Portuguese offshore waters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem, Universidade do Minho, Departament of Biology, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sá
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem, Universidade do Minho, Departament of Biology, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; Campus do Mar, International Campus of Excellence, Spain; Campus do Mar, International Campus of Excellence, Portugal.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bastos-Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem, Universidade do Minho, Departament of Biology, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; Campus do Mar, International Campus of Excellence, Spain; Campus do Mar, International Campus of Excellence, Portugal.
authors.forename: Hélder
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem, Universidade do Minho, Departament of Biology, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; Departament of Biology & CBMA, Universidade do Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem, Universidade do Minho, Departament of Biology, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Duro
authors.affiliation: Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem, Universidade do Minho, Departament of Biology, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Flávia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem, Universidade do Minho, Departament of Biology, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Panta-Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem, Universidade do Minho, Departament of Biology, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Lídia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nicolau
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem, Universidade do Minho, Departament of Biology, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal. Electronic address: catarina.eira@ua.pt.
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eira
authors.affiliation: Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem, Universidade do Minho, Departament of Biology, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; Departament of Biology & CESAM, Universidade do Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vingada
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005398:Fisheries; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis*; D011137:Polystyrenes; D011174:Portugal; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014934:Wood
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D011137:Polystyrenes; D014866:Waste Products; D014873:Water Pollutants; C024075:styrofoam
keywords: Density estimate; Distance sampling; Floating marine debris; Plastics; Portugal