1. The Project is co-founded by the European Union, Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Photo: Eco Vitae, Boštjan Mljač Overview of the proposed DeFishGear Monitoring and Assessment Strategy of micro litter Andreja Palatinus, IWRS dr. Manca Kovač Viršek, IWRS WP3 Conference 25th March 2015, Split Croatia

2. The Project is co-founded by the European Union, Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Main goal of WP5 To choose common approach to assess microplastic pollution on sea surface (accumulation zones, fishery areas, river outflows), beach sediment and ingested by biota (commercially available fish); Analyse chemical composition of found microlitter; Analyse POPs on pellets and larger pieces; Start research activities on nanoplastic (<0,3mm) analysis.

3. The Project is co-founded by the European Union, Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Partnership Institute for Water of the Republic of Slovenia The National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia ARPA Emilio-Romagna, Italy Ca‘Foscari University of Venice, Italy University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia Institute for Oceanography and Fisheries, Croatia Hydro-engineering Institute of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Sarajevo Bosnia&Herzegovina Agricultural University of Tirana, Albania Hellenic Centre for Marine Research,Greece Euro-Mediterranean Center or Climate Change, Italy

4. The Project is co-founded by the European Union, Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) WP5 Timeline 5.1 - Defining an assessment and monitoring strategy for microplastics in the Adriatic 5.2 - Pilot survey I based on modeling results (sea surface, beach sediment) 5.3 - Data collection, evaluation, processing, validation of modeling 5.4 - Pilot survey II in fishing areas (sea surface, biota) 5.5 - Data analysis and reporting

5. The Project is co-founded by the European Union, Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) WP5 Activities Nov 2013 Jan 2014 Mar 2014 May 2014 Jul 2014 Sep 2014 Nov 2014 Jan 2015 Mar 2015 May 2015 Jul 2015 Sep 2015 Nov 2015 Jan 2016 Mar 2016 Defining an assessment and monitoring strategy for microplastics in the Adriatic Pilot survey I based on modeling approach (sea surface, beach sediment, rivers)* Data analysis and reporting Data collection, evaluation, processing, validation of modeling Pilot survey II in fishing areas (sea surface, biota)* Sampling and sample analysis of nanoplastics (size/shape distribution, chemical composition, OCl and PCB analysis*) 5.1 Nov 2013 May 2014 5.2 May 2014 Oct 2014 5.3 Nov 2014 Mar 2014 5.4 May 2014 October 2014 5.5 May 2014 October 2014

6. The Project is co-founded by the European Union, Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Sampling activities 2014 seasurface + riverine outflow + beach sediment sampling locations were determined by the calculation of the accumulation zones of pollution by CMCC (except Bosnia & Herzegovina and Slovenia) 2015 seasurface + biota sampling locations will be in fishing areas (except Bosnia & Herzegovina and Slovenia) Foto: CMCC

7. The Project is co-founded by the European Union, Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Seasurface IWRS & ARPA experience Manta net (Eriksen) Out of the wake zone using a spinnaker boom or „A“ frame 30 min, speed 2.5 - 3 knots Only in calm weather (1-2 beaufort) Seasonality Foto: Eriksen Precaution to minimise contamination & Metadata recording as in TG ML Guidelines

8. The Project is co-founded by the European Union, Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Beach sediment HCMR experience Sand sampling 5 samples / location Sampling separately for Small (<1mm) and Large microplastics (1,1-5mm) 1 season in 2014 Precaution to minimise contamination & Metadata recording as in TG ML Guidelines

9. The Project is co-founded by the European Union, Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Biota HCMR & IOF experience Commercially available fish species Sampling and analysis protocol in developme Only in 2015

10. The Project is co-founded by the European Union, Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) POPs analysis University of Nova Gorica, Slovenija experiences Extraction of POPs from pellets and other smallplastic particles (2-5 cm) Samples sent to Nova Gorica from all countries Beach litter sampling

11. The Project is co-founded by the European Union, Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Chemical analysis Chemical Institute Ljubljana experiences Validation of material characterization of plastic particles discovered in WP5 sampling procedures Analysis done in one location from particles from all countries

12. The Project is co-founded by the European Union, Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Nanoplastics (0.03-0.3mm) Ca‘ Foscari UNIVE experience and work Experimental part of the project Aim: Development of specific protocols for the determination of nanoplastics by modification/adaptation of methodologies and protocols already available (proposed/applied) for microplastics, as those recently recommended by European Commission Technical Subgroup on Marine Litter

13. The Project is co-founded by the European Union, Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Nanoplastics data to be obtained and reported for a correct assessment of nanoplastic pollution and identification of impacts on marine biota metrics (number, mass) size distribution shape (sphere, fiber, platelet, etc.) chemical composition (polymer composition) impurities (organic, inorganic)

14. The Project is co-founded by the European Union, Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Monitoring of sea surface microplastic Number of samples per country CountryYear 2014Year 2015 (fishery area) Type of sample Number of sampling days Number of samples Number of sampling days Number of samples CroatiaSea surface1 day5 5 River outflow surface 1 day5 Beach sediment6 periods40 ItalySea surface2 days8 1010 River outflow surface 1 day3 Beach sediment3 days+ 2 days16 + 10 AlbaniaSea surface1 day5 River outflow surface 1 day2 Beach sediment2 days15 GreeceSea surface1 period15152 days10 Beach sediment1 period11 SloveniaSea surface1 period)41 day5 Beach sediment2 days12 Bosnia - Herzegovina Sea surface1 day2 5 + biota samples

15. The Project is co-founded by the European Union, Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Thank you very much for your attention! Andreja.palatinus@izvrs.si Manca.virsek@izvrs.si