http://connachttribune.ie/galway-student-studies-impact-marine-litter-wildlife/

Galway student studies impact of marine litter on wildlife

Wednesday, 4 March 2015 7:02 Written by: Jessica Thompson

Marine litter has become a major issue that cannot be ignored, according
to Galway PhD student Heidi Acampora who is researching the effects of
marine litter on the health of the ocean.

Based in GMIT, Ms Acampora carries out her research on sea birds. She
says European regulations such as the Marine Strategy Framework
Directive (MSFD) require countries to monitor marine litter through
animal life and this has proven to be successful in other countries.

In the North Sea, for example, a species of sea bird called Fulmarus
Glacialis (fulmars) are used for monitoring sea litter.

?My research aims to prove if this can be done in Ireland and if not
through fulmars, then which would be the alternative species suitable
for such monitoring,? said Miss Acampora.

?Sea birds are good indicators because they spend an enormous amount of
time at sea, but come to shore to breed, and that is when we can assess
them. Marine litter has become a major issue that cannot be ignored.?