Global Garbage Newsletter for December 15, 2015 Please note: the links to the download of the articles (PDF) will be activated only until the 15th of January. Diogo Neves, Paula Sobral, Joana Lia Ferreira, Tânia Pereira, Ingestion of microplastics by commercial fish off the Portuguese coast, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 101, Issue 1, 15 December 2015, Pages 119-126, ISSN 0025-326X, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.11.008. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X15301582) Abstract: The digestive tract contents of 263 individuals from 26 species of commercial fish were examined for microplastics. These were found in 17 species, corresponding to 19.8% of the fish of which 32.7% had ingested more than one microplastic. Of all the fish that ingested microplastics, 63.5% was benthic and 36.5% pelagic species. A total of 73 microplastics were recorded, 48 (65.8%) being fibres and 25 (34.2%) being fragments. Polymers were polypropylene, polyethylene, alkyd resin, rayon, polyester, nylon and acrylic. The mean of ingested microplastics was 0.27 ± 0.63 per fish, (n = 263). Pelagic fish ingested more particles and benthic fish ingested more fibres, but no significant differences were found. Fish with the highest number of microplastics were from the mouth of the Tagus river. Scomber japonicus registered the highest mean of ingested microplastics, suggesting its potential as indicator species to monitor and investigate trends in ingested litter, in the MSFD marine regions. Keywords: Microplastics; Ingestion; Commercial fish; Portugal http://www.globalgarbage.org.br/mailinglist/S0025326X15301582.pdf Bee Geok Yeo, Hideshige Takada, Heidi Taylor, Maki Ito, Junki Hosoda, Mayumi Allinson, Sharnie Connell, Laura Greaves, John McGrath, POPs monitoring in Australia and New Zealand using plastic resin pellets, and International Pellet Watch as a tool for education and raising public awareness on plastic debris and POPs, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 101, Issue 1, 15 December 2015, Pages 137-145, ISSN 0025-326X, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.11.006. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X15301570) Abstract: Persistent organic pollutants (i.e. PCBs, DDTs, and HCHs) were analyzed along Australia and New Zealand North Island coastlines. PCB concentrations were high in urban areas (107–294 ng/g-pellet), with Sydney Harbour the most polluted. Hepta-chlorinated PCB was abundant, with ~ 30% in urban areas suggesting legacy pollution. DDT concentrations showed similar pattern except in rural agricultural sites, Taupo Bay and Ahipara, New Zealand (23 and 47 ng/g-pellet). p,p′-DDE predominance at these 2 sites suggested historical input; they also had high HCH concentrations (17 and 29 ng/g-pellet). The role of International Pellet Watch (IPW) in science communication was studied through feedbacks from IPW volunteers, case studies and examples. IPW data were categorized into understandable terms and tailored reports based on volunteers' backgrounds complemented with pollution maps. The effectiveness of IPW science communication has led to its use in awareness and education activities focusing on both POPs and plastic debris issues. Keywords: PCBs; DDTs; HCHs; Plastic; Citizen science; Science communication http://www.globalgarbage.org.br/mailinglist/S0025326X15301570.pdf Alyssa E. Agustin, Mark A. Merrifield, James T. Potemra, Carey Morishige, Temporal variability of marine debris deposition at Tern Island in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 101, Issue 1, 15 December 2015, Pages 200-207, ISSN 0025-326X, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.10.076. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X15301491) Abstract: A twenty-two year record of marine debris collected on Tern Island is used to characterize the temporal variability of debris deposition at a coral atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Debris deposition tends to be episodic, without a significant relationship to local forcing processes associated with winds, sea level, waves, and proximity to the Subtropical Convergence Zone. The General NOAA Operational Modeling Environment is used to estimate likely debris pathways for Tern Island. The majority of modeled arrivals come from the northeast following prevailing trade winds and surface currents, with trajectories indicating the importance of the convergence zone, or garbage patch, in the North Pacific High region. Although debris deposition does not generally exhibit a significant seasonal cycle, some debris types contain considerable 3 cycle/yr variability that is coherent with wind and surface pressure over a broad region north of Tern. Keywords: Marine debris; French Frigate Shoals; Northwestern Hawaiian Islands; GNOME http://www.globalgarbage.org.br/mailinglist/S0025326X15301491.pdf H.A. Nel, P.W. Froneman, A quantitative analysis of microplastic pollution along the south-eastern coastline of South Africa, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 101, Issue 1, 15 December 2015, Pages 274-279, ISSN 0025-326X, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.09.043. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X15300588) Abstract: The extent of microplastic pollution ( 0.05). These data indicate that the presence of microplastics were not associated with proximity to land-based sources or population density, but rather is governed by water circulation. Keywords: Marine pollution; Microplastics; Synthetic fibres; South Africa; Bays; Open coast http://www.globalgarbage.org.br/mailinglist/S0025326X15300588.pdf Fernanda Loffler Niemeyer Attademo, Deisi Cristiane Balensiefer, Augusto Carlos da Bôaviagem Freire, Glaucia Pereira de Sousa, Fábio Adonis Gouveia Carneiro da Cunha, Fábia de Oliveira Luna, Debris ingestion by the Antillean Manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus), Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 101, Issue 1, 15 December 2015, Pages 284-287, ISSN 0025-326X, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.09.040. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X15300564) Abstract: The Antillean manatee inhabits coastal regions of North and Northeastern Brazil and currently is considered an endangered species in the country. Aiming to gather information for the development of public policies focusing on the conservation of manatees, the National Center for Research and Conservation of Aquatic Mammals of the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity has been rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing these mammals since the 1980s. Over the last 36 years, 40 manatees were released by the CMA/ICMBio and four of them were rescued again due to debris ingestion. Two of these manatees died and the other two were taken back into captivity for a new rehabilitation process. The four mammals had confirmed diagnosis of plastic debris ingestion. These findings demonstrate that the environment where the manatees live after being released had a significant amount of garbage which may hinder the success of the species conservation in Brazil. Keywords: Plastic; Mortality; Conservation; Brazil http://www.globalgarbage.org.br/mailinglist/S0025326X15300564.pdf Michelle Chang, Reducing microplastics from facial exfoliating cleansers in wastewater through treatment versus consumer product decisions, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 101, Issue 1, 15 December 2015, Pages 330-333, ISSN 0025-326X, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.10.074. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X15301478) Abstract: Microplastics ( Keywords: Microplastics; Personal care products; Microbeads; Consumer opinion; Marine pollution; Wastewater treatment http://www.globalgarbage.org.br/mailinglist/S0025326X15301478.pdf Trishan Naidoo, David Glassom, Albertus J. Smit, Plastic pollution in five urban estuaries of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 101, Issue 1, 15 December 2015, Pages 473-480, ISSN 0025-326X, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.09.044. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X1530059X) Abstract: Monitoring plastic concentrations in estuaries is vital in assessing the magnitude of terrestrial inputs to oceanic environments. Data on plastics ≤ 5 mm in estuaries are scant. This study determined microplastic levels within five estuaries along the Durban coastline and on intervening beaches. Plastics were isolated from estuarine sediment, beach sediment and the surface water of each estuary and characterised. Sediment at the Bayhead area of Durban harbour had the highest average plastic concentrations (745.4 ± 129.7 particles per 500 ml) and an attenuating concentration trend away from the city centre was found. Prevailing south to north longshore drift was hypothesised to result in plastic accumulation on the northern shores of beaches with estuarine effluents, however, this was not found. Fragments composed the largest percent of plastics (59%) found in Bayhead, whereas fibres dominated other estuaries with proportions ranging from 38% of total plastics in the uMgeni estuary to 66% in the Mdloti. Keywords: Microplastic; Durban; Estuary; Pollution; Plastic http://www.globalgarbage.org.br/mailinglist/S0025326X1530059X.pdfhttp://www.unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx?DocumentID=26854&ArticleID=35564&l=en Biodegradable Plastics Are Not the Answer to Reducing Marine Litter, Says UN Report Launched on 20th anniversary of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA) Washington D.C., 17 November 2015 - Widespread adoption of products labelled 'biodegradable' will not significantly decrease the volume of plastic entering the ocean or the physical and chemical risks that plastics pose to marine environment, concluded a UN report released today. The report, "Biodegradable Plastics and Marine Litter. Misconceptions, Concerns and Impacts on Marine Environments", finds that complete biodegradation of plastics occurs in conditions that are rarely, if ever, met in marine environments, with some polymers requiring industrial composters and prolonged temperatures of above 50°C to disintegrate. There is also some limited evidence suggesting that labelling products as 'biodegradable' increases the public's inclination to litter. http://unep.org/gpa/documents/publications/BiodegradablePlastics.pdfhttp://www.nomos-shop.de/St%c3%b6fen-OBrien-International-European-Legal-Regime-Regulating-Marine-Litter-EU/productview.aspx?product=26350 The International and European Legal Regime Regulating Marine Litter in the EU Von Dr. Aleke Stöfen-O'Brien, LL.M. int. 2015, 453 S., Broschiert, ISBN 978-3-8487-2680-6 http://www.nomos-shop.de/infoPopup.aspx?product=26350&tab=2 Each year approximately 6.4 million tons of waste reach our oceans. The consequences of this pollutant are manifold and encompass environmental, economic and potentially also human health impacts. The book is the first monography to address regulatory responses to marine litter in a comprehensive way. The author analyses the applicable regulatory instruments addressing the introduction of marine litter and identifies gaps and loopholes in the regulatory systems of international and European law applicable to the four seas surrounding the European Union. Based on a factual discussion of the sources and impacts of marine litter, these instruments are systematically studied and reflected with a view to their effectiveness to prevent its introduction. Marine litter stands symbolic for the use of resources and the findings of the monography can be used as recommendations to address this issue. http://www.globalgarbage.org.br/mailinglist/978-3-8487-2680-6.pdfhttps://youtu.be/NDlnT1ZVHhc adidas Group employees at Parley Ocean School, Maldives 2015 Published on 4 Dec 2015 In November 2015, a group of adidas Group employees attended the Parley Ocean School, a unique programme that blends ocean activism with experiential learning and activities in a marine environment. https://www.youtube.com/user/adidasGrouphttp://blog.adidas-group.com/2015/12/how-the-parley-ocean-school-inspired-me-to-protect-what-i-love/http://www.seabinproject.com/#about About the Seabin Project We have designed and made an automated rubbish bin that catches floating rubbish, oil, fuel and detergents. It designed for floating docks in the water of marinas, private pontoons, inland waterways, residential lakes, harbours, water ways, ports and yacht clubs. Can even be fitted to super yachts and motor yachts! Right now we have a perfectly working prototype and we need the help of Indiegogo and supporters to set up a production of the Seabins to be built in the most sustainable and responsible way we can afford. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/cleaning-the-oceans-one-marina-at-a-timehttps://youtu.be/tiy7WQYQyhY *** To be removed from the Mailing List, send an email to MailingList@globalgarbage.org">MailingList@globalgarbage.org">MailingList@globalgarbage.org">MailingList@globalgarbage.org">MailingList@globalgarbage.org">MailingList@globalgarbage.org">MailingList@globalgarbage.org">MailingList@globalgarbage.org with the subject REMOVE. 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