Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.32582/aa.66.1.6

Assessment of seafloor marine litter along the Montenegrin coast through Fishing for Litter initiatives

Ines Kokić orcid.org/0000-0002-2355-7325 ; Institute of Marine Biology, University of Montenegro *
Ilija Ćetković ; Institute of Marine Biology, University of Montenegro
Ana Pešić ; Institute of Marine Biology, University of Montenegro
Slađana Nikolić orcid.org/0000-0003-4459-7585 ; Institute of Marine Biology, University of Montenegro
Milica Mandić orcid.org/0000-0001-8501-7618 ; Institute of Marine Biology, University of Montenegro

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

This paper presents an assessment of the amount, composition and spatial distribution of seafloor marine litter in the southern part of the Adriatic Sea (GSA 18). Surveys were performed during a six-year period (2019-2024) from 24 hauls. Sampling was carried out using a bottom trawl during regular fishing activities (Fishing for Litter - FFL). Seafloor marine litter was classified into nine main categories (plastic, metal, rubber, cardboard/paper, textile/natural fibres, glass/ceramics, processed wood, and two categories of unclassified waste) in the laboratory of the Institute of Marine Biology, Kotor. The total average density of collected litter was 260.89 items/km2. The highest concentration of marine litter was determined in the Boka Kotorska Bay area, near the shoreline, at a depth range of 35-40 metres with an average density of 597.39 items/km2. The lowest value was recorded in the open part of the Montenegrin coast at depths of between 60 and 120 metres (148.74 items/km2). The highest concentration of marine litter near the coast is a consequence of increasingly intensive urbanisation, river inflows and the hydrological characteristics of the area. Plastic represents the dominant category in terms of the number of items, followed by metal and textiles/natural fibres. Marine litter related to fishing activities accounted for 3.34 % of the total litter collected on the seafloor.

Keywords

marine litter; bottom trawl; seafloor; pollution; plastic; Adriatic Sea

Hrčak ID:

331721

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/331721

Publication date:

12.6.2025.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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