Monitoring marine litter, a part of the joint Norwegian/Russian ecosystem survey in the Barents Sea Bjørn Einar Grøsvik 1, Elena Eriksen 1, Tatiana Prokhorova 2, Pavel Krivosheya 2 1)Institute of Marine Research 2)PINRO, Russland

Stranded litter at Garnes, Bergen

EU: Good environmental status by descriptors: 1- Biological diversity is maintained. 6 - Sea-floor integrity is at a level that ensures that the structure and functions of the ecosystems. 8 - Concentrations of contaminants are at levels not giving rise to pollution effects. 9 - Contaminants in fish and other seafood for human consumption do not exceed levels established by Community legislation or other relevant standards Properties and quantities of marine litter do not cause harm to the coastal and marine environment.

▶ Main goal IMR has a free and independent role in all scientific questions Explore the environment and the biology of the oceans and coasts Give advice to the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs, the Food Safety Authority, the fishing industry and other stakeholders regarding management of the ocean and coast’s biological resources and environment Communicate the research results Develop technology for fisheries and catching

▶ Main focus areas Aquaculture and coastal areas Aquaculture and coastal areas Oceans Oceans External influences External influences

Autumn survey activity Joint Norwegian-Russian Ecosystem survey in the Barents Sea during autumn aimed to obtain capelin, herring, polar cod, blue whiting, shrimps and 0-group abundance estimates/ indices, and monitor the status of some ecosystem components and processes August-September: largest ice-free area and minimal stocks migration. Timing is optimal to reflect feeding success and for assessing pelagic fish stocks for assessment and fisheries management advice.

Advantages with the present monitoring highly functional collaboration between Norway and Russia comprehensive spatial coverage and adequate resolution the results/output covers important assessment tasks and some ecosystem components and processes multidisciplinary focus increases the scientific knowledge about the ecosystem VilniusJohan Hjort G.O.Sars Helmar Hanssen

Some examples..

Litter observed at surface m3m3 m3m3 m3m3 m3m3 m3m3 m3m3 m3m3

Surface currents averaged for Map by Vidar Lien, IMR

Litter in pelagic and bottom trawls g g g Pelagic: contour Bottom: without

Bottom currents averaged for Map by Vidar Lien, IMR

Still there are many questions The litter registration is dependent of catchability and the amount may be underestimated We do not register degradation products like microplastic and nanoplastic To which degree may these be taken up by organisms? And how it may affect their fitness We do not know of which other pollutants that adsorbs to different types of plastic

Plastic ingestion by the supralittoral amphipod Orchestia gammarellus Photo: Anlaug Furu Boddington

OSPAR: 15 countries together with EU, cooperate to protect the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic. It started in 1972 with the Oslo Convention against dumping of hazardous waste in the Atlantic and the North Sea. It was broadened to cover land-based sources and the offshore industry by the Paris Convention of These two conventions were unified, up-dated and extended by the 1992 OSPAR Convention. Annex on biodiversity and ecosystems was adopted in 1998 to cover non-polluting human activities that can adversely affect the sea.

Conclusion We should work for reducing discharges of litter Produce more environmental friendly and degradable plastic products Improve methods and develop standards for monitoring We need more knowledge on how litter or degradation products may effect ecosystem health

Thanks for your attention!