Webinar: Marine Litter and Biodiversity: Co-detection and impacts

Marine ecosystems are under intense pressure and, in this context, marine litter (ML) is considered to be an emerging issue threatening environmental and human health, with more than 11 million tons of litter ending up in our oceans every year. About 80% of all marine debris is plastic, including microplastics that can enter the food chains of marine ecosystems. This results in severe impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services. Thus, it is urgent to find effective solutions to monitor and remove marine litter from ecosystems, while also reducing plastic consumption by creating awareness and by promoting the adoption of good practices, behaviours and choices, all essential for a sustainable society and future.

This is the objective of our project. Parallelly to its scientific and technological core activities, MAELSTROM is also committed to contributing to awareness-raising efforts regarding marine litter impacts: this why, on Friday 10th, 2023, 1-3 PM UTC, we are at the webinar Marine Litter and Biodiversity: Co-detection and impacts, organized within the Networking Fridays of AIR Centre, the international collaborative framework to address global challenges and local priorities in the Atlantic Ocean.

The event is organized by our partner CIIMAR in partnership with AIR Centre and GEO BON Marine Biodiversity Observation Network.

Here the Zoom registration; it is also possible to watch the live streaming on the YouTube channel of AIR Centre!

Agenda

1:00 – Welcome and Introduction, Isabel Sousa-Pinto (FCUP and CIIMAR, University of Porto, PT)

01:10 – Keynote | Marine Litter and Microplastics: determining ecosystem health using science and policy moving from contamination to pollution per se, Mike Elliott (University of Hull, United Kingdom)

01:30 – Session | Marine Litter and Biodiversity: Co-detection and impacts. Moderator: Luis R. Vieira (CIIMAR, University of Porto, PT)

  • New solutions to tackle the marine litter issue in coastal areas: the MAELSTROM project, Fantina Madricardo (ISMAR-CNR, Italy)
  • Plastic additives: a major emerging concern in marine plastic pollution, Rodrigo Almeda (EOMAR-ECOAQUA, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, SP)
  • An overview of the effects of nanoplastics in fish, Mariana Teles (Universitat Autònoma Barcelona, SP)
  • Presence and impacts of marine litter on Mediterranean marine megafauna within the Plastic Busters MPAs project, Matteo Galli (UNISI, IT)

2:30 – Round-Table: Current scenarios and future challenges. Moderator: Isabel Sousa-Pinto (FCUP and CIIMAR, University of Porto, PT)

3:00 – Closing