Sources an Impacts of Marine Litter in the Mediterranean Sea
F. Galgani, IFREMER, France
Athens, May/ 2014
4 billions tons of garbage every year in the world 288 millions tons for the 2013 production of plastics
6 millions tons of debris from ships every years 115 000 micro particles / Km2 in the Mediterranean sea
MARINE LITTER IS DIVERSE
SOURCES ARE NO WELL IDENTIFIED
In some tourist areas more than 75 % of the annual waste production is generated in summer season.
in the Mediterranean tourists generate 10-15% more waste than inhabitants.
Sources of marine litter in the Mediterranean. MSFD GES Technical Group on Marine Litter, 2012
Plastic is important
the ICC campaign in the Mediterranean (2002-2006)
LITTER MAY STRAND ON BEACHES
LITTER MAY FLOAT
DENSITIES OF STRANDED AND FLOATING LITTER IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA
LITTER MAY ACCUMULATE
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
1994 TOTAL
1995 TOTAL
Rhone
1996 TOTAL
Rhone
5
4300N
20 0m
3
50 0m
4300N
20 0m
1997 TOTAL
4300N
0500E
4300N
20 0m
2001 TOTAL
4300N
20 0m
50 0m
4300N
20 0m
2005 TOTAL
2006 TOTAL
Rhone
4300N
50 0m
4300N
20 0m
0500E
4300N
20 0m
0500E
Rhone 5
3
50 0m
0500E
4300N
20 0m
3
50 0m
0 0400E
3
0 0400E
5
0 0400E
4300N
20 0m
2009 TOTAL
Rhone
3
50 0m
0 0400E
3
0500E
5
3
5
50 0m
2008 TOTAL
Rhone
Rhone
0 0400E
5
20 0m
4300N
20 0m
50 0m
0500E
0500E
5
0 0400E
0500E
Rhone
3
50 0m
0 0400E
0 0400E
2004 TOTAL
5
3
3
50 0m
0500E
2003 TOTAL
Rhone
4300N
20 0m
0 0400E
5
5
3
50 0m
0500E
2002 TOTAL
Rhone
4300N
20 0m
0 0400E
Rhone
5
3
50 0m
0500E
2000 TOTAL
Rhone
5
0 0400E
0500E
1999 TOTAL
Rhone
3
50 0m
0 0400E
5
20 0m
3
50 0m
1998 TOTAL
Rhone
4300N
20 0m
0 0400E
0500E
5
3
50 0m
0 0400E
Rhone
5
0500E
0 0400E
Monitoring the Gulf Lion , 1994-2009
0500E
LITTER DEGRADE TO MICROPARTICLES
Transport is important
Degradation may be long
Impacts : Entanglement
J Stock
Impacts : Ingestion
J Van Franeker, IMARES
Impact on trophic chains?
Litter may raft various species
A social and economic impact
Some effects on human health
Litter may transport pathogens
Zettler et al., Environ. Sci. Technol., 2013, 47 (13), pp 7137–7146
Not so many solutions
Convention, agreements and directives - MARPOL Convention (73/78) - London (1972) - Bale (1992) - The Honolulu Strategy - The Berlin ConfĂŠrence - The marine Strategy Framework Directive (descriptor 10) - The MEDPOL Regional Action Plan