Macro- and Microlitter in Surface Waters of the Kara and Barents Seas
摘要
The problem of marine litter accumulation is relevant even in remote regions with low anthropogenic pressure, such as the Arctic seas. This study presents the results of three surveys conducted in 2021 and 2023 on the distribution and accumulation of macro- and microlitter in surface waters of the Kara and Barents seas. In 2021, an area of 18.3 km2 was observed, with 695 macrolitter items recorded (average: 4.56 items/km2; pollution density range: 0–210.6 items/km2). In 2023, 108 items were found over 9.4 km2 (average: 8.4 items/km2; pollution density range: 0–24.7 items/km2). Microlitter (1–5 mm) was analyzed based on 45 samples in 2021 (1.679 particles; mean concentration: 0.124 ± 0.383 items/m3; range: 0–1.53 items/m3) and 31 samples in 2023 (184 particles; mean: 0.02 ± 0.02 items/m3; range: 0–0.166 items/m3). Fishing nets were the main contributor to the mass of macrolitter. The average weight of microplastic was 0.0135 g/km2, while macrolitter amounted to 13.4 g/km2, which is 992.6 times higher.