Dynamics of Coastal Litter Density on the Beaches of the Northeastern Black Sea Coasts in 2016–2021

V. A. Spirina1,*, M. P. Pogojeva1, 2

1 N. N. Zubov State Oceanographic Institute, Moscow, Russia

2 Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

* e-mail: Viktoriia_spirina@bk.ru

Abstract

The article presents the results of coastal litter monitoring on the beaches of the Black Sea from 2016 to 2021. The study was conducted on five beaches of the northeastern Black Sea coast, including urban and suburban areas. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) methodology of the European Commission was used for the collection and classification of litter items. During 13 monitoring sessions, a total of 2633 litter items (108 types, 8 categories) were identified, with plastic being the predominant component, averaging 71.7% of the total litter volume. The second predominant category was metal, averaging 8.2% of the found litter. The litter density varied from 47.66 pcs./100 m to 1163 pcs./100 m. The litter density median was 118.26 pcs./100 m on all studied beaches. The inter-annual variability in the litter amount on the beaches shows a decreasing trend in all monitored areas with pronounced peaks in the summer and winter seasons. The main source of the coastal litter pollution was recreational activities, the impact of which was aggravated by lack of developed waste management infrastructure as well as by the proximity of transport routes. The obtained data highlight the necessity of continued monitoring and implementation of measures to reduce pollution, such as improving waste management systems and reducing plastic production and usage. These data can also contribute to legislative and practical initiatives for the protection of the Black Sea marine ecosystems as developed both by the government and people at large.

Keywords

marine pollution, marine beach litter, Black Sea, microplastics

Acknowledgments

The work was carried out within international projects EMBLAS-I, EMBLAS-II, EMBLAS-Plus funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the European Union in support of the implementation of the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea from Pollution (Bucharest Convention of 1992). For the data obtained, the author expresses gratitude to the observers who conducted monitoring studies from 2016 to 2021 on the beaches of the Black Sea.

For citation

Spirina, V.A. and Pogojeva, M.P., 2024. Dynamics of Coastal Litter Density on the Beaches of the Northeastern Black Sea Coasts in 2016–2021. Ecological Safety of Coastal and Shelf Zones of Sea, (4), pp. 39–50.

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