Title Beach macro-litter monitoring on southern Baltic beaches: results, experiences and recommendations
Authors Schernewski, Gerald ; Balciunas, Arunas ; Gräwe, Dennis ; Gräwe, Ulf ; Klesse, Kristina ; Schulz, Marcus ; Wesnigk, Sylvie ; Fleet, David ; Haseler, Mirco ; Möllman, Nils ; Werner, Stefanie
DOI 10.1007/s11852-016-0489-x
Full Text Download
Is Part of Journal of coastal conservation.. New York : Springer. 2018, vol. 22, iss. 1, p. 5-25.. ISSN 1400-0350. eISSN 1874-7841
Keywords [eng] Marine strategy framework directive ; Marine policy ; Cormorant ; Model simulation ; Cluster analysis
Abstract [eng] Major objectives were to provide a comprehensive dataset on beach macro-litter for parts of the southern Baltic Sea and to analyse if the methodology is fully applicable and a suitable monitoring method in the Baltic. We carried out a regular macro litter beach monitoring (OSPAR methodology, 4 time a year) on 35 beaches along the German and Lithuanian Baltic coast over 2–5 years. Additional experiments addressed the subjectivity of the field surveys and spatio-temporal variability on different scales. We observed no seasonality of the data and a monthly compared to a 3-monthly sampling resulted in 3 times higher annual item numbers. Along the Lithuanian coast, the average number of items per survey varied between 138 and 340 and along the German Baltic coast between 7 and 404, with a median value of 47. All data showed a very high spatio-temporal variability. Using the Matrix Scoring Technique we assessed beach litter sources. With 50% tourism and recreation was the most important source. 3D–transport simulations helped to explain the minor role of shipping as a source and, compared to the North Sea, the low numbers of items on German Baltic beaches. Floating litter had a short duration time in the western Baltic Sea and offshore drift dominated. Further, the common regular beach cleanings reduced the potential for local litter accumulation and translocation. We suggest a monitoring system on 14 Baltic beaches in Germany and 2 in Lithuania and provide cost calculations. The analysis of macro-litter in cormorant nesting material and the search for beached dead animals did not show any result. We can conclude that the macro-litter beach monitoring method is less suitable for Baltic beaches and should only serve as a complementary method in combination with others.
Published New York : Springer
Type Journal article
Language English
Publication date 2018
CC license CC license description