Enhancing public awareness and promoting co-responsibility for marine litter in Europe: The challenge of MARLISCO

Plastic pollution on Moroccan beaches: Toward baselines for large-scale assessment

In Africa, Morocco is the 10th largest producer of plastic. The severity of this plastic has attracted increasing amounts of attention in the Moroccan Atlantic and Mediterranean in recent years. However, at the national level, there is limited knowledge of plastic pollution. To obtain an exhaustive and comprehensive evaluation of plastic pollution levels in Morocco, large-scale monitoring is needed on all the coasts of the country. In this context, this paper examined the composition, abundance, distribution, source and quality of beaches on two Moroccan coasts using four beach quality indices along 29 beaches. During two seasons, a total of 72,105 items were counted. The mean litter abundance was 0.31 items/m2, and the Mediterranean beaches were more dense than the Atlantic beaches. In particular, litter density was greater in spring (0.35 items/m2) than in summer (0.29 items/m2). The data indicate considerable differences in the density of marine debris according to the seasonality, beach typology and presence of rivers. Hazardous litter items were collected along both Moroccan coasts, constituting 8.41 % of the total collected items, with a mean of 0.026 items/m2. The use of environmental indices allowed us to classify Moroccan beaches as "moderate cleanliness", "moderate abundance" of plastics, "moderately safe" presence of hazardous litter and "mediocre" environmental status. The findings of the present study indicate that the sources of litter on both Moroccan coasts come mainly from recreational activities and dumping. The waste management practices recommended for Moroccan beaches include reducing sources, mitigating mitigation measures and changing littering behavior.

Exploring fishers' pro-environmental behavioral intention and support for policies to combat marine litter in Vietnam

This study applies Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) theory to investigate fishers' pro-environmental behavioral intention and their support for policies to reduce marine litter. While pro-environmental behavioral intention is often associated with personal environmental intention at the household level, policy support represents their support for government action at the political level. Therefore, we examine whether fishers are willing to engage in both of these dimensions. Data from 369 Vietnamese fishers are analyzed using structural equation modeling with FIMIX-PLS and PLS-POS. The results show that the sequence of values, beliefs, and personal norms can explain the fishers' pro-environmental behavioral intention and their support for policies addressing marine litter. Two segments of the fishers are detected from the sample with different perspectives of engagement intention. Fishers in segment 1 placed great emphasis on the consequences of marine litter on fishing activities as a motivator for their responsible actions. Meanwhile, fishers in segment 2 express pro-environmental engagement intention driven by the concern about responsibility and moral obligation. A binary logistic regression indicates that the risks of marine litter on fishing activity can provide the explanations for the differences between them. Our findings highlight both fishers' pro-environmental behavior and policy support as important strategies for dealing with marine litter in fisheries. If implemented simultaneously, they hold promise to alleviate the environmental and economic impact of marine litter in Vietnam.

Kolb's experiential learning theory and marine debris education: Effects of different stages on learning

Marine debris is a vital issue in ocean governance. While education outreach can promote individual learning and develop pro-environmental behavior, research on marine debris education remains scarce. Kolb's experiential learning theory may provide a holistic model for marine debris education; therefore, this study developed an experiential-learning based marine debris (ELBMD) beach cleanup curriculum and analyzed the participants' performance during Kolb's four-stage cycle. The results revealed that (1) the ELBMD curriculum deepened the participants' understanding of marine debris, created a sense of responsibility, and increased their confidence in analytical skills and intention to act responsibly. (2) Reflection (Stage II) encouraged participants to think deeply about the human-environment relationship, which induced pro-environmental behavior and awareness of political engagement (Stage IV). (3) Peer discussion (Stage III) induced participants to refine their conception architecture, form values, and practice pro-environmental behavior (Stage IV). The results may aid the development of future marine debris education.

Fishing for litter for the reduction of marine plastic debris: What benefits and costs do Italians perceive?

As marine plastic litter (MPL) accumulates in the ocean, the need for remediation solutions, such as fishing for litter (FFL) schemes, is very crucial. In order to support the implementation of FFL schemes, the opinion of some Italians were sampled. The present study investigates Italians' opinions about the contribution of FFL in reducing MPL, and the perceived benefits and costs of the scheme. Descriptive statistics, test analyses and a logit regression were carried out. The key findings show a high sensitivity and concern toward MPL, and a good knowledge of FFL experiences. In Italians' opinion, potential FFL costs incurred by fishers should be mainly borne by public institutions. Considering FFL benefits, Italians have no doubts about the effectiveness of fishing for litter in reducing MPL. Female and coastal residence, FFL knowledge and concern about MPL positively affected the perceptions of FFL benefits, while education has a negative effect on the beneficial perceptions of FFL.

Bottle with a message: The role of story writing as an engagement tool to explore children's perceptions of marine plastic litter

As human behaviors play a crucial role in addressing the global threat of plastic pollution, it is vital to understand perceptions about marine plastic litter (MPL) and to develop interventions encouraging pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs). This study evaluates story writing as a window to explore perceptions and as an engagement activity to boost PEBs. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, schoolchildren from the East Pacific coast participated in this activity, each creating a story and answering a pre-post survey. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of 81 stories and 79 surveys show awareness of sources and impacts. Participants identified land and local pollution as significant contributors to MPL and emphasized bio-ecological impacts, reflecting concern for landscape and wildlife. While the stories presented a diversity of solutions, recycling dominated the surveys. As participants reported an increase in self-assessed knowledge and improved PEBs after this activity, it can be seen as an engagement tool to encourage behavior change.

Addressing the challenge of marine plastic litter in the Moroccan Mediterranean: A citizen science project with schoolchildren

In this study, based on data collected by citizen science, we studied the abundance, spatial and temporal distribution of marine litter in three beaches of the Moroccan Mediterranean. A total of 14,042 litter items were collected with an average abundance of 0.58 items/m². The most of litter were composed of anthropic polymeric materials, representing 74 % of the total litter collected. Plastics account for the majority of the items collected and are mainly caps/lids, crisp/sweet packets, plastic/polystyrene, cigarette butts and small plastic bags. Litter abundance displayed significant seasonal differences, with the highest during summer. Tourism and poor waste management practices are the major sources of plastic on the beaches surveyed. The use of the Clean Coast Index (CCI) and the Plastics Abundance Index (PAI) permits the classification of the three beaches in the Moroccan Mediterranean as a "moderately clean" coastal area with a "very high abundance" of plastics. In addition, the Hazardous Items Index (HII) allows classification of the region as highly polluted by hazardous litter. Best management measures are needed to promote the environmental quality of the beaches of the Moroccan Mediterranean.

Public perceptions of marine environmental issues: A case study of coastal recreational users in Italy

Marine environments provide ecosystem services jeopardised by human activities, resulting in impacts requiring urgent attention. In Europe and southern Mediterranean countries like Italy, marine environmental problems of note include marine litter, overfishing and climate change, among others. Public engagement is essential in mitigating these problems. In this context, investigating public perceptions and what influences these perceptions is necessary to design the right public engagement strategies. This study evaluated perceptions of marine environmental issues among coastal recreational users along the Conero Riviera in the Adriatic Sea. This is a location used for many coastal activities, affected by several human impacts and considered to become a marine protected area. A total of 202 coastal recreational users were interviewed regarding their perceptions of marine environmental issues including awareness, concern, observed changes in the local coast, and pro-environmental behaviours to combat marine environmental issues. Regression analysis was used to determine influential variables in perceptions. The participants were mainly aware of and concerned about issues including pollution, litter and overfishing. They had observed changes in the local coast primarily encompassing wildlife reduction, toxic algal growth and mucilage. They engaged in pro-environmental behaviours principally including recycling, litter collection and pollution reduction. Awareness of marine environmental issues influenced concern, while the observation of coastal changes and pro-environmental behaviours were mainly influenced by demographic variables like water use and gender. The results of this study were used to make recommendations concerning the design of communication and education campaigns and strategies to stimulate pro-environmental behaviours to support marine conservation.

Characterization and distribution of plastic particles along Alexandria beaches, Mediterranean Coast of Egypt, using microscopy and thermal analysis techniques

Microplastics (MPs) contamination has become a global concern with potential impacts on the marine environment. Alexandria is the second-largest city in Egypt and a significant contributor of plastic litter inputs into the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The current study provides an in-depth analysis of the plastic particles accumulated along Alexandria beaches. Types, composition, and potential sources of MPs were investigated using microscopy and thermal analysis. A mean value of 389.1 ± 285.9 items kg^-1 dry weight was detected in the shore sediments similar to other records from the Eastern Mediterranean region. An average of 457.4 ± 281.8 items m^-3 was recorded in the surface water, which was the highest recorded MPs density in onshore waters of the Mediterranean region. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that plastics made up 0.5% - 72% of the materials extracted from the sediment samples, and 0.58% - 20.6% from the water samples. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) identified ten semi-crystalline polymers. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA) were the common polymers. The single-use plastic bags and detergents were the land-based sources of marine plastic litter. The sea-based sources included antifouling paints, maintenance of ships, and abandoned fishing gears. Proper management plans of domestic waste input, polluter-pay strategy, and education programs aiming at the Fishermen and how plastic pollution would impact their livelihood are urgently needed.

What does the public think about microplastics? Insights from an empirical analysis of mental models elicited through free associations

Microplastics are an issue of rising concern, in terms of their possible implications for both the environment and human health. A survey was distributed among a representative sample of the adult Norwegian population (N = 2720) to explore the public understanding of microplastics. Respondents were asked to report the first thing that came to mind when they read or heard the word “microplastics,” based on which a coding scheme was developed that served to categorize the obtained answers into thematic clusters. Results indicate that the public seem to think of microplastics as something bad that might pollute the ocean and harm animal species. Awareness of the sources of microplastics appeared to be rather low, and few respondents mentioned potential ways to solve the problem. Responses differed across certain socio-demographic characteristics; for example, female and younger respondents were more likely to think about the spread and causes/sources of microplastics, whereas a higher educational level was associated positively with thinking of ways to solve the problem. Additional analyses indicated relationships between personal values and the identified thematic clusters; for example, endorsing self-transcendence and openness-to-change values was associated with thinking of ways to solve and of consequences of microplastics. These findings are informative to those wanting to design tailored communications and interventions aimed at reducing plastic pollution and plastic waste.

Exploring Scientific Discourse on Marine Litter in Europe: Review of Sources, Causes and Solutions

Marine litter is a transboundary environmental issue that affects all the world’s oceans. Marine litter research is a young discipline but one that has exploded during the last five years. However, the increased knowledge of sources and underlying causes to marine litter, as well as knowledge regarding solutions, lack systematic review and synthesis. This study reviews the scientific discourses around plastic marine litter in Europe, and more specifically, in Norway and Denmark, and explores emerging discourse coalitions. Four main thematic storylines on the source-cause-solution causal relationship, as well as two emerging storylines within marine litter research, are found. This study concludes that in order to secure sustainability of solutions and to avoid risk transformation and greenwashing, more interdisciplinary research, including life cycle assessment and investigations of scientific and societal discourses, is needed.

Characterization of anthropogenic marine macro-debris affecting coral habitat in the highly urbanized seascape of Mumbai megacity

Marine debris has become a major form of pollution and a serious ecosystem health concern. The present study evaluates the accumulation, origin, and fate of debris in intertidal coral habitats of Mumbai-one of the world's highly populated coastal cities on the west coast of India. Predominantly, seven hermatypic coral species belonging to seven genera and five families were identified and mainly represented by Pseudosidastrea, Porites, and Bernardpora. In terms of number, the mean density of marine debris was 1.60 ± 0.13 SE items/m², which is higher than the global average. The mean density of plastic debris was 1.46 ± 0.14 SE items/m². Approximately 9% of total coral colonies were in physical contact with debris, and 22% of these colonies showed visible signs of partial bleaching. Single use plastic bags and wrappers were dominant plastic debris. The study area was characterized as 'very poor cleanliness' according to the Beach Quality Indexes, which include the Clean Coast Index, General Index, and Hazardous Items Index. The numerical model indicates the influence of river discharge and probable areas of plastic accumulation with high tidal currents in this region, maneuvering the spatial advection of litter in the nearshore areas. Combined analysis of ground-truthing and model simulation implies that the possible contributing sources of litter were representatives of land-based and sea-originated. The overall results point to increasing anthropogenic stressors threatening coastal coral communities, including marine debris pollution. It is advocated to adopt an integrated coastal zone management approach supported by coordinated policy frameworks could guide the mitigation of the debris footprint in coastal environments.

Getting butts off the beach: Policy alone is not effective at reducing cigarette filter litter on beaches in Maui, Hawai'i

Cigarette filters are made of non-biodegradable plastic and are one of the top littered items worldwide. Here, we determine if policy implementation is an effective strategy for reducing cigarette filter litter on beaches in Maui, Hawai'i by comparing cigarette filter counts before and after a policy banning tobacco use was implemented. We use a before-after control-impact (BACI) design to investigate whether changes in cigarette filter accumulation at an impact site, where tobacco use was banned, decreased relative to counts at a control site, where tobacco use was not banned. A total of 764 cigarette filters were removed with no significant difference detected in cigarette filter littering between the control and impact site after the policy went into place. This study shows that policy requiring a shift from social norms, such as tossing cigarette butts, needs to be accompanied by sustained law enforcement and awareness around the policy to be effective.

Investigating the knowledge and attitude of the Greek public towards marine plastic pollution and the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive

This study investigates the knowledge and attitudes of the Greek public towards marine plastic pollution and the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive by interpreting the results of a questionnaire. In Greece, the issue of marine plastic pollution has been highlighted by scientists. Public consultation processes about the implementation of the Directive into the national law have been also carried out. However, the results of our study showed that participants were not informed about the issue of marine plastic pollution nor the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive. Nevertheless, they expressed positive attitudes towards it including their willingness to pay and act in order to reduce their plastic waste. Thereby, it is recommended that more initiatives should support the publicity of the Directive so that the Greek public would be able to participating in the decision-making process and support its implementation. In addition, the current study suggests that the topic of microplastics should be integrated into the context of formal education.

Seafloor litter along the Italian coastal zone: An integrated approach to identify sources of marine litter

A heterogeneous amount of waste of different origins is continuously generated along Italian coasts in the Mediterranean Sea. In this paper, using information regarding the quantities and the different types of marine litter based on Project AWARE's "Dive Against Debris" data, we try to identify the main sources of this waste. In particular, the methodological approach used associates the origin of marine litter sources with the dataset of geo-localised state-owned maritime concessions, which are loaded by the granting bodies (regions, municipalities, port authorities) on the State Property Information System (Sid). The sources of marine litter were evaluated using the matrix scoring technique (MST). Then, to assess the weight of each source in each station, the community-level weighted mean (CWM) was calculated. Single-use plastic accounted for the highest percentage (19.13%), followed by glass beverage bottles (10.90%), shopping bags (9.03%), aluminium beverage cans (4.91%), and cigarette butts (4.61%). Tourism and beach users contributed to 42.3% of the litter found, followed by fishing (15.7%) and yachting (11.3%). The overlapping of the data collected by scuba divers with the state concessions of activities from offshore and mainland areas was used to distinguish the anthropic pressures that impact the coast. Policy makers and the local administrator may use these results to define new methods of collection and reuse of anthropic waste through a more harmonised approach in the management of marine waste.

Marine plastic litter: public perceptions and opinions in Italy

Understanding public perceptions, opinions and knowledge about marine plastic litter issue is a critical step in effectively engaging society and changing human behaviour in order to reduce litter inputs. The study performs a segmentation analysis that jointly considers opinions about sources and impacts of a sample of 605 Italians with a twofold objective: i. to identify homogeneous segments of people according to the importance they attach to different sources and impacts of plastic litter; ii. to understand if behavioural aspects and personal characteristics emerged for each cluster of people. Gender, education and living areas significantly affect respondents' opinions, knowledge and behaviour. A high level of awareness and concern emerged. Four clusters- "the silent majority", "the least concerned and involved", "the little conscious of litter sources", and "the most severe and committed"-, reveal the heterogeneity of people's profiles. Policy implications in terms of knowledge, education and behaviour for reducing marine plastic pollution are discussed.

Assessing the Levels of Awareness among European Citizens about the Direct and Indirect Impacts of Plastics on Human Health

There is an urgent need to assess European citizens’ perspective regarding their plastic consumption and to evaluate their awareness of the direct and indirect effect of plastics on human health in order to influence current behavior trends. In this study, the evaluation has been cross-related with scientific facts, with the final aim of detecting the most recommendable paths in increasing human awareness, reducing plastic consumption, and consequently impacting human health. A statistical analysis of quantitative data, gathered from 1000 European citizens via an online survey in the period from May to June 2020, showed that a general awareness about the direct impact of plastic consumption and contamination (waste) on human health is high in Europe. However, only a few participants (from a higher educational group) were aware of the indirect negative effects that oil extraction and industrial production of plastic can have on human health. This finding calls for improved availability of this information to general public. Despite the participants’ positive attitude toward active plastic reduction (61%), plastic consumption on a daily basis is still very high (86%). The most common current actions toward plastic reduction are plastic bag usage, reusage, or replacement with sustainable alternatives (e.g., textile bags) and selecting products with less plastic packaging. The participants showed important criticism toward the information available to the general public about plastics and health. This awareness is important since significant relation has been found between the available information and the participants’ decisions on the actions they might undertake to reduce plastic consumption. The study clearly showed the willingness of the participants to take action, but they also requested to be strongly supported with joint efforts from government, policies, and marketing, defining it as the most successful way toward implementing these changes.

Perception of Citizens Regarding Marine Litter Impacts: Collaborative Methodologies in Island Fishing Communities of Cape Verde

Marine litter has been considered one of the most serious global challenges, requiring urgent action by governmental bodies, especially in African Small Island Developing States (SIDS), where resources and research are limited. In addition to this, waste management and environmental education and ocean literacy programs in schools are scarce, with islands suffering more seriously from these problems. Despite the amount of literature regarding causes and impacts of marine litter, there is still not enough research conducted concerning the public perceptions on both the problem and the potential solutions. This is even more noticeable in African developing countries, where resources and research are scarce. Perception plays a key role for ecosystem management and conservation policies. This study intends to explore the perceptions of local island fishing communities in Cape Verde regarding marine litter, in order to contribute for an improvement of marine ecosystem management and development of conservation policies. To achieve that, two participatory sessions were conducted in two communities in the island of Santiago—Porto Mosquito and Porto Gouveia—where brainstorming and active listening were used to create shared and authentic spaces for dialogue between the members of the community. Results show that the population of both communities were very aware of the marine litter problem. They were able to identify the lack of a proper waste management system in the island and the inappropriate behaviours of the population as the main causes of this problem. Equipment damages and the presence of plastic inside the fish were the most relevant impacts identified by the participants. These findings reinforce previous research on the importance of public engagement and environmental education to contribute to the conservation of marine ecosystems and to build a strong collaborative ocean governance.

An assessment of attitudes towards plastics and bioplastics in Europe

Over the last 50 years, conventional fossil-based plastics have become an integral part of our everyday lives. Apart from their low production costs, this is due to a number of their unique properties, including durability, strength, lightness, electrical and thermal insulation, resistance to chemicals and corrosion. The production of plastics has increased from 1.5 million metric tons in 1950 to 359 million metric tons in 2018. Of this total, 61.8 million metric tons were produced in Europe. There are various problems associated with plastic use and disposal that pose a serious threat to both the physical environment and human health. Since public behaviour plays a key role when it comes to the use of plastic, this paper reports on a study that focused on an assessment of attitudes towards plastics and bioplastics in Europe. The results showed that packaging is the most frequent modality of plastic used among participants. In addition, majority of participants are aware that plastic waste can affect environment and human health and therefore segregate and properly dispose plastics. Also, even though most respondents were aware of the environmental problems related to plastic use and showed a positive inclination towards using bioplastic materials, their limited availability and lack of relevant information about bioplastics pose a problem for wider use. Departing from the assumption that the public attitude is a determining factor in the consumption of plastics as a whole and bioplastics in particular, this paper also sheds some light on the current situation, identifying some trends and information gaps which should be addressed in order to encourage a more rational use of plastics in Europe.

Ocean Literacy to Promote Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030 in Coastal Communities

Ambassadors for Biodiversity (EmBio) is an ocean literacy research project that contributes to the improvement of literacy on marine and coastal biodiversity, namely encompassing the areas covered by the Natura 2000 Network, by promoting coastal and oceanic resources conservation and natural and cultural values preservation of the Portuguese western Atlantic coast. This project directly promotes the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the implementation of 2030 Agenda developed by the United Nations and adopted by most countries in the world, which define the priorities and aspirations for global sustainable development until the year of 2030, mobilizing a world-wide effort to meet a common set of goals and objectives. This paper contributes to understanding how ocean literacy, and specifically the EmBio research project, fits into the international agenda for sustainable development and the SDGs and its targets. Through an analysis and a comparison between the project EmBio and the SDGs, it was possible to identify connections on 11 out of 17 goals and 31 out of 169 targets, with a special emphasis on the SDG 14—Life Below Water. The results highlight the relevance of this project and, especially, ocean literacy for the accomplishment of the SDGs.

Seawater degradation of PLA accelerated by water-soluble PVA

In order to promote the degradation of PLA in seawater, a series of seawater-degradable polyester blends PVA/PLA were prepared by blending biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) with water-soluble modified polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in this paper. ADR 4370S was introduced to bring a certain degree of improvement in compatibility of PVA/PLA blends. The results of degradation test in natural seawater for 180 days show that the weight loss of PVA/PLA blends in seawater is much higher compared with that of pure PLA. PVA can be used as an effective hydrolysis accelerator for PLA matrix, helping to significantly reduce the molecular weight of PLA. The channels caused by dissolution/swelling of PVA facilitate the entry of water and microorganisms into the materials to contact with PLA, thereby promoting the degradation process of PLA matrix itself. Thus, both dissolution/swelling of PVA and degradation of PLA occur in PVA/PLA blends, and the degree of rapid dissolution of PVA in the early stage determines the degree of degradation of PLA.

A snapshot of the litter problem along the Viña del Mar - Concón coastal strip, Valparaíso region, Chile

Along the Viña del Mar - Concón coastal strip 11,894 litter items were collected, and grouped into 48 different categories (11 litter typologies). The average litter abundance was 0.25 items/m², plastic items, and cigarette butts being the most common. Hazardous litter can be found along the entire study area, reaching 28.9% (3438 items of 11,894 total items collected distributed in 14 different categories), and an average of 0.071 items/m². The application of environmental evaluation indices based on litter data, allows categorizing the study area as a clean-moderate coastal strip with some presence of hazardous litter items, and unsatisfactory environmental conditions. Studied sectors were statistically grouped into three specific types that ranged from sectors in optimal environmental conditions (Group A) to sectors in adverse environmental conditions (Group C). The typology and magnitudes of litter found along the study area suggest a combination of sources that mainly include direct activities on the beach (recreational and smoking-related) as well dumping. In the same way, sanitary waste, ocean/waterway items, and items related to surfing activities were observed. Strategies for litter management and environmental quality improvement need to be developed and enforced.

Recreational anglers' perceptions, attitudes and estimated contribution to angling related marine litter in the German Baltic Sea

Marine litter affects marine environments and ecosystem services worldwide. A substantial amount of the traceable marine litter originates from tourism and recreational activities. An important activity carried out in coastal areas is marine recreational fishing (MRF). Although the impacts of MRF on marine ecosystems has received increasing attention during recent years, the contribution of MRF to marine litter is widely unknown. Marine litter is caused by human activities and its avoidance requires an understanding of environmental behaviour. This study presents results obtained by a telephone survey aimed to assess the behaviour, motivations and attitudes of Baltic Sea anglers towards marine litter. The telephone survey identified three angler types primarily separated by the predominant motives regarding nature experience, catch orientation and challenge seeking. Regardless of their motivation, most anglers were concerned about marine litter, recognised their responsibility and were willing to contribute to litter avoidance and mitigation. The telephone survey was supplemented by face-to-face angler interviews during a stratified random access point intercept survey along the German Baltic coast to estimate the amount of lost fishing tackle based on anglers self-reports. According to the reports, the loss of fishing tackle was a rare event for individual anglers. Nonetheless, given a high number of Baltic Sea anglers and angling effort, local environmental impacts due to lost fishing tackle on marine environments cannot be excluded.

Estimation of plastic waste inputs from land into the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman: An environmental disaster, scientific and social concerns

It has been reported that, the huge amount of plastic waste is present in marine environments. This study evaluated solid waste generation, management, disposal approaches, and the amount of plastic waste entered into the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman in 2016. The findings showed that waste in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman regions has been mismanaged by 65% and 81%, respectively. According to our estimates, about 1634.9 k-tons (Kt) and 204.6 Kt of plastic waste have been, respectively, generated by the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman littoral states in 2016. Most likely, the mass of plastic waste entering the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman in 2016 was ranged from 155 to 413.4 Kt and 29.2-77.9 Kt, respectively. Without implementation of effective waste management strategies, it is estimated that by 2030, the mass of plastic waste entering the Persian Gulf will increase to 199.4-531.6 Kt, while in the Gulf of Oman it would be about 40.4-107.7 Kt. The entry of plastic waste into the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman has been expected to increase by 29% and 38% in 2030, respectively. As a result, the related cumulative environmental and health effects can be more intensive. It can be emphasized that all countries located in the coastal areas of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman need to modify their solid waste management, plastic waste in particular, policies to conserve sensitive marine ecosystems.

Consumer-based actions to reduce plastic pollution in rivers: A multi-criteria decision analysis approach

The use and management of single use plastics is a major area of concern for the public, regulatory and business worlds. Focusing on the most commonly occurring consumer plastic items present in European freshwater environments, we identified and evaluated consumer-based actions with respect to their direct or indirect potential to reduce macroplastic pollution in freshwater environments. As the main end users of these items, concerned consumers are faced with a bewildering array of choices to reduce their plastics footprint, notably through recycling or using reusable items. Using a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis approach, we explored the effectiveness of 27 plastic reduction actions with respect to their feasibility, economic impacts, environmental impacts, unintended social/environmental impacts, potential scale of change and evidence of impact. The top ranked consumer-based actions were identified as: using wooden or reusable cutlery; switching to reusable water bottles; using wooden or reusable stirrers; using plastic free cotton-buds; and using refill detergent/ shampoo bottles. We examined the feasibility of top-ranked actions using a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) to explore the complexities inherent in their implementation for consumers, businesses, and government to reduce the presence of plastic in the environment.

The missing sink - quantification, categorisation and sourcing of beached macro-debris in the Scottish Orkney Islands

Around the coastline of the UK, macro-debris has been observed in average densities of over 700 items per metre. Systematic beach-cleans were conducted at 35 sites around the Scottish Orkney Islands, in order to quantify and categorise the level of marine debris found there. Litter was collected from 100 m transects and categorised by its material, broad source (terrestrial or marine) and potential sector source. Variation between sites, and the relative contribution of pre-determined environmental variables in influencing said variation, were analysed using the "capscale" function for a canonical analysis of principle coordinates (CAP). 513 items/m were observed, (77% plastic), with "String/cord (<1cm diameter)" being the most abundant and widely distributed litter type. 47% of macro-debris was attributed to the fishing sector and < 10% to leisure, living and tourism-associated activities. Conversely, the unique regional hydrodynamics must be examined further, before the source of any given item can be categorically assigned.

Plastic-Free July: An Experimental Study of Limiting and Promoting Factors in Encouraging a Reduction of Single-Use Plastic Consumption

To tackle the plastic problem, the worldwide campaign ‘Plastic Free July’ aims at encouraging people to reduce single-use plastics during the month of July. To get people started with new behavior patterns, so-called ‘windows of opportunity’—periods where people become open for new experiences—are expected to matter. Therefore, the current study evaluated if an arbitrary month that is framed as an opportunity for change can interrupt people in their daily routines and reduce plastic consumption. An online survey (n = 509) with repeated measures (n = 366) was conducted including one experimental and one control group. The experimental group was invited to reduce their single-use plastic consumption during July in line with the ‘Plastic Free July’ campaign. Results revealed that, in this action period, single-use plastic consumption was slightly but significantly lower in the experimental than in the control group, which did not receive any information about ‘Plastic Free July’. The campaign seemed to be more effective for participants with low pro-environmental identity. Path analysis revealed that plastic consumption (prior to the intervention) was significantly predicted by perceived difficulty, habits, and pro-environmental identity. Policy support was predicted by problem awareness, pro-environmental identity and perceived barriers. We conclude with recommendations for plastic-free purchase and policy support.

Plastic Debris in the Marine Environment: History and Future Challenges

The success of plastic as a material has shaped the development of modern society and challenged older materials in many of their established uses. However, plastic is now a major component of litter and is extensively reported within the marine environment. Impacts from plastic debris have been identified as a major global conservation issue with implications for maritime industries, tourism, marine life, and human health. Although there are many benefits of plastic, it is clear that society's relationship and reliance on plastics needs to be addressed. Conversely, alternative materials to replace plastic items, or solutions mitigating plastic release, also need to be critiqued to make sure their properties and environmental impacts are more beneficial. This review examines the history and impact of plastics in the marine environment. Current solutions that aim to mitigate plastics accumulation in the environment and the future challenges of plastic as a material are also discussed.

"Who wants to join?" Visitors' willingness to participate in beach litter clean-ups in Nigeria

Public involvement in beach litter clean-ups can help tackle marine litter while providing experiential learning, raising awareness and stimulating anti-litter behaviour. Beach visitors contribute to litter generation by inappropriate discarding behaviour, and engaging them in litter removal can be beneficial. This study assessed visitors' (N = 512) stated willingness to participate in litter clean-ups at Elegushi Royal Beach, Nigeria, which is under pressure from litter problems visitors contribute to, and potentially emblematic of organised litter clean-ups. Beach visitors recognised marine litter as a global and national problem but did not perceive the case study beach as being littered. Willingness to participate in beach litter clean-ups was marginal. However, it was positively correlated with previous participation in litter clean-ups, perceived collective responsibility and the importance of policy and investments in reducing litter. These results were used to propose a framework to engage and recruit visitors in beach litter removal campaigns.

The impact of anthropogenic litter on Colombia's central Caribbean beaches

A total of 7563 anthropogenic litter (AL) items, grouped into twelve different typologies, were collected along 25 beaches located on the central Caribbean coast of Colombia. The average AL abundance was 6.05 items/m², plastic items being the most common reaching a total percentage of 88.9% with an average density of 5.38 items/m². Application of 3 evaluation indices, based on the AL data, placed most of the beaches into the status of unacceptable conditions of cleanness (Dirty to Extremely Dirty), and into mediocre to unsatisfactory environmental status. Hazardous anthropogenic litter (HAL), occurred in considerable amounts with hazardous items reaching a high of 7% (502 items of 7563 total items collected), and an average of 0.40 items/m². Beaches were statistically grouped into four specific types that ranged from beaches in good environmental conditions (Group A) to beaches in extremely adverse environmental conditions (Group D). The typology and magnitudes of AL found along the study area suggest a combination of sources that are associated with the multiple usages developed along this region's coast. Anthropogenic litter is mainly related to land-based sources, and these generating source activities can be found in nearby basins and/or on the same beaches where the litter remains. This paper proposes four key actions to specifically reduce AL, as well as an 8-step agenda to address solutions to the broader management of litter problems.

Towards a Circular Economy: Using Stakeholder Subjectivity to Identify Priorities, Consensus, and Conflict in the Irish EPS/XPS Market

In European Seas, plastic litter from fishing activities, river transport, and poor waste management is one of the fastest growing threats to the health of the marine environment. Extruded polystyrene (XPS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS), specifically, have become some of the most prominent types of marine litter found around Europe’s coastlines. To combat this problem, the European Commission has ratified a series of regulations and policies, including the Single-Use Plastics Directive and the EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy. However, in order to ensure that the benefits of such regulations and policies are realized at a scale that can adequately address the scope of the problem, decision-makers will need to integrate the opinions, values, and priorities of relevant stakeholders who operate across the EPS/XPS product lifecycle. In this study, we apply a 35-statement Q-methodology to identify the priorities of stakeholders as they relate to the Irish EPS/XPS market and the wider societal transition to a circular economy. Based on the responses of nineteen individuals representing industry, policy-makers, and community leaders, we identified three distinct perspectives: System Overhaul; Incremental Upgrade; and Market Innovation. The results demonstrate that the type and format of policy interventions linked to Ireland’s EPS/XPS circular economy are heavily contested, which presents significant challenges for driving the debate forward. These results provide valuable information on viewpoints that can be used by different stakeholders at national and EU levels to address areas of conflict, ultimately fostering the development of more effective, broadly supported co-developed policies.

Tackling the plastic problem: A review on perceptions, behaviors, and interventions

The excessive production and consumption of plastic has serious consequences on the environment and human health. The reduction of plastic has therefore become a major global challenge. As technical solutions might be insufficient to curb the problem, a perspective highlighting the impact of human behavior is needed. The current literature review provides an overview of the existing social-scientific literature on plastic, ranging from risk awareness, consumers' preferences, and predictors of usage behavior to political and psychological intervention strategies. By reviewing the literature, we aim to identify potential factors for future interventions to reduce plastic consumption. The 187 studies reviewed show that people much appreciate and routinely use plastic, despite a pronounced awareness of the associated problems. Habits, norms, and situational factors seem to be especially predictive for plastic consumption behavior. Both political and psychological interventions are potentially effective, although long-term effects are often uncertain. The review closes with implications for behavior-based solutions and future research, which should combine interdisciplinary approaches and take into account cultural differences.

Marine litter and public involvement in beach cleaning: Disentangling perception and awareness among adults and children, Bay of Biscay, Spain

Coastal litter abundance and its effects have increased for years. Waste reduction is the most effective countermeasure to fight against this problem. Littering attitudes may have an effect on people's involvement in coastal cleanups. In this study, coastal litter perception, awareness about its impact and likely sources were investigated in local population from south Bay of Biscay, Spain. People of different age groups and commitment levels regarding litter were interviewed and their answers compared with data from the area. Results showed differences in perception between volunteers and non-volunteers, but not between children and adults. Interaction effect of age was found for awareness. Volunteers and children tended to erroneously attribute the main litter origin to beachgoers, more than non-volunteers or adults. Our results suggest that encouraging local population to clean beaches would contribute to improve their perception of the problem and their attitudes toward taking action.

Exploring public views on marine litter in Europe: Perceived causes, consequences and pathways to change

Marine litter is a global challenge and society plays an important role via lifestyles and behaviour, including policy support. We analysed public perceptions of marine litter and contributing factors, using data from 1133 respondents across 16 European countries. People reported high levels of concern about marine litter, and the vast majority (95%) reported seeing litter when visiting the coast. The problem was attributed to product and packaging design and behaviour rather than lack of facilities or accidental loss of items. Retailers, industry and government were perceived as most responsible, but also least motivated and competent to reduce marine litter, whereas scientists and environmental groups were perceived as least responsible but most motivated and competent. Regression analyses demonstrated the importance of psychological factors such as values and social norms above sociodemographic variables. These findings are important for communications and interventions to reduce inputs of marine litter to the natural environment.

Marine litter on the beaches of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas: An assessment of their abundance, composition and sources

The abundance, composition and sources of marine litter were determined on beaches located in the seven countries of the Adriatic-Ionian macroregion, namely Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro and Slovenia. A total of 70,581 marine litter items were classified and recorded through one-year long surveys carried out in 31 sites. The average litter density of 0.67 items/m² found within this study is considered to be relatively high. The beaches investigated differed in terms of human-induced pressures; their majority is classified either as semi-urban or semi-rural, while very few beaches could be characterized as urban or remote/natural. The majority of litter items were made of artificial/anthropogenic polymer materials accounting for 91.1% of all litter. Litter from shoreline sources accounted for 33.4% of all litter collected. The amount of litter from sea-based sources ranged in the different countries from 1.54% to 14.84%, with an average of 6.30% at regional level.

Amount and distribution of benthic marine litter along Sardinian fishing grounds (CW Mediterranean Sea)

Reports of marine litter pollution first appeared in scientific literature of the early 1970s; yet, more than 40 years later, no rigorous estimates exist of the amount of litter existing in the marine environment. To cope with this global urgency, this study reports the status of marine litter abundance along fishing grounds surrounding the island of Sardinia (CW Mediterranean Sea; FAO Geographical Sub-Area 11) through three years of trawl surveys. A total of 302 hauls, covering a total of 18.4 km² of trawled surface were carried out in the framework of the MEDITS campaign, at depths comprised between 0 and 800 m. A total of 918 items were collected and sorted, with the highest concentration observed above 200 m depth. Overall, plastic was the dominant component of litter, followed by glass and metal. Comparing our results with other areas from the Mediterranean basin, Sardinian waters showed a lower impact, possibly as a consequence of multiple factors such as the lower human population density and the low flow of the main rivers, among others. In addition, fishermen behaviour with respect to marine litter was investigated by mean of anonymous questionnaires, emphasizing the necessity to further develop management policies and infrastructures supporting litter disposal.

Using experiential marine debris education to make an impact: Collecting debris, informing policy makers, and influencing students

The Shore to Statehouse project supported the creation of an open-source, replicable, undergraduate experiential course on marine debris. Funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the course allowed undergraduate students in Connecticut, USA, to collect marine debris locally, then create a policy report for state legislators. Here we share the results of the project including data on four accumulation surveys on the Long Island Sound, as well as the impact on student motivation, attitudes, and behavior levels. Results include finding over 1600 individual pieces of debris totaling 19.4kg (42.8lb). In addition, the students experienced statistically significant improvements in knowledge and behavior scores. This open-source course can be replicated, empowering students to remove debris, provide important information to local policy makers, and improve knowledge and behavior.

Spatio-temporal variation of anthropogenic marine debris on Chilean beaches

We examined the hypothesis that in an emerging economy such as Chile the abundances of Anthropogenic Marine Debris (AMD) on beaches are increasing over time. The citizen science program Científicos de la Basura ("Litter Scientists") conducted three national surveys (2008, 2012 and 2016) to determine AMD composition, abundance, spatial patterns and temporal trends. AMD was found on all beaches along the entire Chilean coast. Highest percentages of AMD in all surveys were plastics and cigarette butts, which can be attributed to local sources (i.e. beach users). The Antofagasta region in northern Chile had the highest abundance of AMD compared with all other zones. Higher abundances of AMD were found at the upper stations from almost all zones. No significant tendency of increasing or decreasing AMD densities was observed during the 8years covered by our study, which suggests that economic development alone cannot explain temporal trends in AMD densities.

Situating Arab-Israeli artisanal fishermen's perceptions of marine litter in a socio-institutional and socio-cultural context

Understanding the mental constructs underlying people's social responses, decisions and behaviors is crucial to defining the governance challenges faced in dealing with marine anthropogenic litter. Using interactive governance theory, this study provides qualitative insights into how a small group of Arab-Israeli artisanal fishermen perceive marine litter and its impact (system to be governed) in the context of the socio-institutional structures (governing system) which manage waste and aim to protect the surrounding environment. It demonstrates that, until the relationships between local people and the various governing institutions are transformed, there is little hope for citizen cooperation in reducing marine litter long-term in the case-study site. More generally, underlying narratives and politics playing out at a local level need to be understood in order to identify which interventions are likely to be effective and which are not. An intervention checklist to assess the potential effectiveness of a marine litter intervention is proposed.

Microplastics in personal care products: Exploring perceptions of environmentalists, beauticians and students

Microplastics enter the environment as a result of larger plastic items breaking down ('secondary') and from particles originally manufactured at that size ('primary'). Personal care products are an important contributor of secondary microplastics (typically referred to as 'microbeads'), for example in toothpaste, facial scrubs and soaps. Consumers play an important role in influencing the demand for these products and therefore any associated environmental consequences. Hence we need to understand public perceptions in order to help reduce emissions of microplastics. This study explored awareness of plastic microbeads in personal care products in three groups: environmental activists, trainee beauticians and university students in South West England. Focus groups were run, where participants were shown the quantity of microbeads found in individual high-street personal care products. Qualitative analysis showed that while the environmentalists were originally aware of the issue, it lacked visibility and immediacy for the beauticians and students. Yet when shown the amount of plastic in a range of familiar everyday personal care products, all participants expressed considerable surprise and concern at the quantities and potential impact. Regardless of any perceived level of harm in the environment, the consensus was that their use was unnatural and unnecessary. This research could inform future communications with the public and industry as well as policy initiatives to phase out the use of microbeads.