MEDPELLETS: Status and dynamics of pellet contamination in the Western Mediterranean Sea
Pleamar program
Description
MEDPELLETS is a project driven by Good Karma Projects to create a solid knowledge base about the extent and impact of plastic pellet pollution in the Western Mediterranean, specifically in the Levantine-Balearic marine demarcation. The project will serve as a starting point to assess the current situation and the effectiveness of the measures implemented to prevent the loss of this type of contaminants in the environment.
The MEDPELLETS project will provide relevant information to understand the status, dynamics and impact of plastic pellet emissions in the Western Mediterranean. Pellets and other microplastics are a key indicator of the good environmental status of the oceans recognised by the European Union’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive and specifically in the D10. Pellets are the largest source of primary microplastics to the environment and accumulate toxins that enter the food chain, affecting the fishing sector.
General Objective:
To create a knowledge base about the current state of pellet contamination in the south coast of Catalonia and north of the Balearic Islands. As well as, to obtain evidence about the dynamics of this contamination to promote the design of more efficient countermeasures to prevent this primary microplastic from reaching the sea.
Specific objectives:
- Identify the main pellet accumulation areas of the potential focus and along the dispersal area in the western Mediterranean.
- Characterize accumulation zones by composition, type of polymers present and geographic distribution.
- To understand the dynamics of pellets in Playa de la Pineda, Playa dels Prats de Vila-Seca and Playa Cavallería, complementary to Subprogram BM-6.
- Involve citizens in the study of the dispersion and impact of pellets, while involving them in the conservation and care of natural areas.
- Disseminate and raise awareness among stakeholders through the results obtained in order to promote new measures.
- Contribute to guide the most efficient measures to prevent this primary microplastic from reaching the sea.
- Documentation and collection of information related to plastic pellet contamination.
- Investigation of the main areas affected by plastic pellet contamination from the potential source and along the dispersal area in the western Mediterranean.
- Definition of accumulation zones.
- Analysis and characterization of accumulation zones.
- Identification of sampling areas for the monitoring of dynamic zones in Playa de la Pineda, Platja de Cavalleria and Playa dels Prats in Vila-Seca.
- Monitoring of the dynamic areas complementary to the BM-6 Subprogram and the Natura 2000 Network.
- Experimental analysis of samples from the defined dynamic zones.
- Statistical analysis of the data.
- Design of a citizen science and volunteering project.
- Implementation of the citizen science and volunteering project.
- Contribute to the environmental awareness of the entire value chain related to plastic pellets.
- Involvement of fishermen’s associations near the areas affected by plastic pellet contamination.
- Conducting environmental education workshops with schools.
- Dissemination and communication through social networks, web and press.
- Evaluate the results of the project and draft a proposal for the continuation of this project.
Although all the objectives set have been successfully achieved, in particular, it is worth highlighting the participation of the community through citizen science as it has involved more than 200 people. On the other hand, the detection of 14 different types of polymers during the six months of sample collection is noteworthy. In addition, during this period of time, the largest sampling of pellets has also been recorded on a beach, with a quantity of 1,835,000 in a single location, according to the world organization FIDRA. Periodic sampling made it possible to relate the episodes of rainfall and sea storms and wind from E-SE with the massive arrival of pellets on the beaches of Tarragona. In other words, it allowed to relate that the pellets present in the areas near the industry, which are lost due to the activity of the sector itself, in episodes of heavy rainfall, are transported through the channels of the rainwater/river beds ending up in the sea and, consequently, on the beaches of Tarragona.
Other notable results include raising awareness among more than 300 members of the fishing sector through campaigns and conducting nine environmental education workshops in schools. Finally, the companies involved in the problem received training with the aim of understanding the environmental situation in their environment and the importance of addressing the problem. The results regarding the dissemination efforts have been very positive, obtaining a great impact on digital and print media. More than 600 publications have been launched through the web, social networks and mailing. Likewise, 3 informative videos of the project have been produced, 9 press releases and 45 participations in the media: television, newspaper, radio and digital press.
During the final day of presentation of the results of the project, the importance of transferring research results was highlighted and all interested parties participated, including the administration, companies and the third sector.
MEDPELLETS: Status and dynamics of pellet contamination in the Western Mediterranean Sea
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