SOLUTION TITLE: CLEANUP-MEDA new strategy to monitor and reduce the impact

of marine litter in Mediterranean Sea

M. Cristina Fossi, Silvia Casini, Cristina Panti, Tommaso Campani

University of Siena - Fossi@unisi.it

Marine litter is an environmental, economic, human health and aesthetic problem on global scale for the marine and coastal environment, representing a serious concern also for the Mediterranean environment.

Three billions of litter float or cover the bottom in the Mediterranean Sea, the prevalence (70-80%) is plastic waste.

Presence and effect of marine litter in marine organism has been poorly investigated in European areas and represent a threat that requires a series of mitigation/solution actions.

PROBLEM ADDRESSED

The CLEANUP-MED project is strongly linked to Descriptor 10 of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive: monitoring and reducing the presence and impact of marine litter in the marine environment to reach the “Good Environmental Status” by 2020.

DESCRIPTION OF SOLUTION PROPOSED

CLEANUP-MED Main ObjectiveTo mitigate and reduce the impact of marine litter in the

Mediterranean environment using a comprehensive approach

Pre and Post Monitoring Actions, Steps: 1 and 6

Monitoring presence and effects of marine litter on

wildlife and humans

Mitigation Actions, Steps: 2 and 3

To reduce input of marine litter applying already

developed best practices

Mitigation Action, Steps: 4 and 5

To remove marine litter developing and

applying new solutions

Step 1 - MONITORING T0 (N)

Monitoring the presence and effects of marine litter, and secondary pollution caused by leaching of pollutants from litter, in Mediterranean area at Time Zero (T0) before the implementation of solution/mitigation actions.

PRE - MONITORING ACTIONS

Monitoring marine litter in: coastal shores, sea bottom, water column and surface

Monitoring microdebris

Monitoring sentinels organisms: detection content and effects of marine litter

Monitoring impact on human health

UNISI scientists use bioindicator organisms (cetaceans, sea birds, sea turtles, sharks, sardines, mussels, plankton) to detect content and effects of marine litter in the Mediterranean sea.

Plastic stomach content in sea turtles

Monitoring sentinels organisms

Steps 2 and 3. INPUT REDUCTIONS AT SEA and ON THE GO (BP)

Boaters, fishermen, and marina owners can play a part in controlling the amount of marine debris that ends up in our waterways and oceans.

MITIGATION ACTIONS

Step 4. SEA CLEANING (BP-N)

Collecting and removing litter by beach cleanup and fishing for litter by the direct removal of litter from the seabed and marine environment.

MITIGATION ACTIONS

Step 5. RECYCLING MARINE LITTERS: LITTER AS RESOURCE (N)

To investigate the possibility of recycling marine litter obtained by Mitigation Actions (Steps 2 and 4) for sea or coastal use purposes.

Step 6. MONITORING TxMonitoring the reduction of presence and effects of marine litter, and secondary pollution caused by leaching of pollutant from litter, in the Med area at different time scale. (DURING/AFTER the implementation of solution/mitigation actions).

Stomach content in sea turtles at T0

Stomach content in sea turtles at TX

POST - MONITORING ACTIONS

Time

The CLEANUP MED project is based on a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach that requires a complex networking between: University of Siena, International Scientific Institutions, Universities of the Mediterranean area, Italian/European solid waste management industries, regulatory and competent authorities, fishermen association, stakeholders, NGOs, UNIDO, etc.

NETWORKING