Pierpaolo Consoli, Franco Andaloro, Chiara Altobelli, Pietro Battaglia, Silvana Campagnuolo, Simonepietro Canese, Luca Castriota, Tiziana Cillari, Manuela Falautano, Cristina Pedà, Patrizia Perzia, Mauro Sinopoli, Pietro Vivona, Gianfranco Scotti, Valentina Esposito, Francois Galgani, Teresa Romeo,

Marine litter in an EBSA (Ecologically or Biologically Significant Area) of the central Mediterranean Sea:
Abundance, composition, impact on benthic species and basis for monitoring entanglement,

Environmental Pollution, Volume 236, May 2018, Pages 405-415, ISSN 0269-7491,

Abstract:
Marine litter is commonly observed everywhere in the ocean. In this
study, we analyzed 17 km of video footage, collected by a Remotely
Operated Vehicle (ROV) at depths ranging between 20 and 220 m, during 19
transects performed on the rocky banks of the Straits of Sicily.

Recently, the Contracting Parties of the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD) recognized this site as an Ecologically or Biologically
Significant Area (EBSA). The research aim was to quantify the abundance
of marine litter and its impact on benthic fauna. Litter density ranged
from 0 items/100 m2 to 14.02 items/100 m2 with a mean (±standard error)
of 2.13 (±0.84) items/100 m2. The observed average density was higher
(5.2 items/100 m2) at depths >100 m than at shallower depths (<100 m,
0.71 items/100 m2). Lost or abandoned fishing lines contributed to
98.07% of the overall litter density, then representing the dominant
source of marine debris.
Litter interactions with fauna were frequently observed,
with 30% of litter causing “entanglement/coverage” and 15%
causing damage to sessile fauna. A total of 16 species showed
interaction (entanglement/coverage or damage) with litter items and 12
of these are species of conservation concern according to international
directives and agreements (CITES, Berne Convention, Habitat Directive,
SPA/BD Protocol, IUCN Red List); we also observed 7 priority habitats of
the SPA/BD Protocol.
This research will support the implementation of monitoring “Harm” as
recommended by the UN Environment/MAP Regional Plan
on Marine Litter Management in the Mediterranean, and the Marine
Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The institution of a SPAMI in the
investigated area could represent a good management action for the
protection of this hotspot of biodiversity and to achieve a Good
Environmental Status (GES) for the marine environment by 2020, under the MSFD.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=10ZtZSF1Q1hBqTHJaHA8Dg2FTr3ZqBGPx
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.01.097.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749117330117)