ORCID
- Thompson, Richard: 0000-0003-2262-6621
Abstract
Mechanical interventions are increasingly suggested as a means of removing plastic litter from aquatic environments; their performance is rarely evaluated, but such information is critical to inform policy interventions such as those required to facilitate UNEA 5.2. The Seabin, a fixed-point device designed to remove floating litter in sheltered waters was examined in an urban tidal marina (Southwest UK). It captured on average 58 litter items/day; chiefly plastic pellets, polystyrene balls and plastic fragments. It also captured one marine organism for every 3.6 items of litter, or 13 organisms/day, half of which were dead upon retrieval. The rate of litter capture was inferior to manual cleaning conducted with nets from pontoons or vessels. Hence, in this location the Seabin was of minimal benefit in terms of marine litter removal and resulted in mortality of marine organisms. The presence of such devices could also precipitate false optimism and reliance on technological solutions, rather than systemic changes in our production, use, and disposal of plastics.
DOI
10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114199
Publication Date
2022-11-01
Publication Title
Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume
184
ISSN
0025-326X
Embargo Period
2023-10-07
Organisational Unit
School of Biological and Marine Sciences
Recommended Citation
Parker-Jurd, F. N., Smith, N., Gibson, L., Nuojua, S., & Thompson, R. (2022) 'Evaluating the performance of the ‘Seabin’ – A fixed point mechanical litter removal device for sheltered waters', Marine Pollution Bulletin, 184. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114199
