Marine litter on the EU coastline down by almost one-third

The newly-published EU Coastline Macro Litter Trend report found that the amount of marine macro litter (items bigger than 2.5 cm) in the EU coastline has dropped by 29 % between the baseline period (2015-2016) and the assessment period (2020-2021). 

While the largest reduction in terms of percentages is seen at the Baltic Sea (45%), major efforts at the Mediterranean and the Black Sea have led to impressive reductions in absolute numbers of litter items on the beaches (figure below). 

On the EU coastlines, single-use plastic was reduced by 40 %. Fisheries-related items decreased by 20 % and plastic bags were down by 20 %. This achievement is the result of multilateral, national, regional, and citizen efforts triggered by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

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However, this encouraging news does not allow for complacency. The median values of total coastline marine macro litter quantity in many European regions remain high and exceed the agreed threshold value (20 items per 100 m) for coastline macro litter. The European average in 2020-2021 was 203 items per 100 m.

Background

Marine litter is a global concern as it has adverse effects on the health of our ocean and marine life. Furthermore, marine litter may also present a threat to and risk for human health and welfare, with the capacity to negatively impact economic sectors such as tourism and fisheries. 

EU Member States monitor litter on their national coastlines to understand how much litter is in the marine environment.

The EU Coastline Macro Litter Trend report shows the developed methodological approach, based on a step-trend analysis, to compare litter counts from different years, as evidence-based scientific support to European policymaking processes. The report documents the progress towards achieving good environmental status and a clean European marine environment. It also helps EU Member States define national intermediate quantitative targets based on the assessment of coastline litter trends.

Furthermore, the trend calculations track progress towards the EU Zero Pollution Action Plan's Target 5a, which aims to reduce plastic litter at sea by 50% by 2030.

The EU action

The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) ensures that marine and coastal waters are used sustainably by protecting the health of our coasts, seas and ocean. The main goal is to achieve good environmental status (GES) of EU’s marine waters through 11 thematic Descriptors.

Marine litter is addressed under Descriptor 10 of the MSFD. The MSFD Technical Group on Marine Litter (TG ML) has been mandated to develop an approach for calculating trends in coastline macro litter (bigger than 2.5 cm) from MSFD beach surveys. The JRC coordinates the development of this activity within the TG ML. 

The JRC closely collaborates with the European Marine Observation and Data network (EMODnet), to support the Member States with the harmonisation and management of their marine litter data. 

The report comes out in conjunction with the latest reports on the marine measures taken by Member States under the MSFD, as well as the reports on the state of freshwater in the European Union, published today by the European Commission. 

Related link

The report on the MSFD Competence Centre’s website