Marine litter within the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive

Within the context of the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EC, European Commission, 2010/477/EU), the Task Group for marine litter (TG 10) recommended that the overriding objective should be a measurable and significant decrease of the total amount of marine litter in comparison with initial baseline values by 2020. The Commission in its decision of 1 September 2010 (2010/477/EU) useding the following indicators: - Amount, source and composition of litter washed ashore and/or deposited on coastlines. - Amount and composition of litter in the water column and accumulation on the sea floor. - - Amount, distribution and composition of microparticles (mainly microplastics). Amount and composition of litter ingested by marine animals. - Amount, distribution and composition of microparticles (mainly microplastics). As a follow up to the Commission Decision (2010/477/EU), the Marine Directors requested the Directorate-General for the Environment (DG ENV) in 2010 to establish a Technical Subgroup under the Working Group on GES (WG GES) to support member states providing scientific and technical background for the implementation of MSFD requirements for D 10 starting with recommendations on monitoring and advise on required future research. Their first year report can be found at: (http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/ 111111111/22826). Reaching GES may thus be understood as a continuous reduction of inputs with the aim to prevent further input and reduce the total amount of marine litter to fulfill the requirements of D 10 (“Properties and quantities of marine litter do not cause harm to the coastal and marine environment”) by 2020.The work program for the MSFD GES technical subgroup in 2012 and 2013 is presented to support the implementation of monitoring, focusing on (i) sources, (ii) the understanding of harm and (iii) monitoring strategies.

GALGANI Francois;  HANKE Georg;  WERNER Stefanie;  DE VREES Leo; 

2014-10-14

OXFORD UNIV PRESS

JRC72319

1054-3139,   

http://icesjms.oxfordjournals.org/content/70/6/1055,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC72319,   

10.1093/icesjms/fst122,