The BEACH LITTER survey was conducted by Legambiente within Spiagge e fondali puliti -Clean-up the Med From April to May 2015, 29 Italian

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2 The BEACH LITTER survey was conducted by Legambiente within Spiagge e fondali puliti -Clean-up the Med From April to May 2015, 29 Italian beaches and 25 other Mediterranean beaches were studied with the aim of recording the quantity and types of waste on shore. Recording the most common sort of waste, the possible origin, and other parameters, this survey reports a dangerous phenomenon for the environment, tourism, and the economy. It s necessary to implement programs for waste reduction in seas and on coastal strips, as provided by European Directive Marine Strategy.

3 Marine Strategy is the European directive 2008/56/ce that focuses on marine environment strategy. The Marine Directive aims to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) of the EU's marine waters by 2020, based on 11 descriptors, one of which is related to sea and beach waste: Descriptor 10. Properties and quantities of marine litter do not cause harm to the coastal and marine environment. To achieve a good environmental status it s essential to implement policies and interventions to reduce sea and coastal waste and, consequently, their impact on ecosystems. Our precious marine environmental heritage must be protected and preserved in order to maintain the biodiversity, health, and productiveness of our waters.

4 Eventuale grafica fonti marine litter

5 FAUNA Sea turtles, birds, and marine mammals may be trapped in fishing nets/tools or die by suffocation due to accidental ingestion of waste traded for food. According to some studies, 79.6 % of sea turtles die as a result of waste ingestion. Additionally, microplastics ingested by aquatic organisms are also the main cause of the introduction of plastics in biota and of the imbalance in the marine food chain. ECONOMY The economic impact is calculated by mechanical damage to boats, fishing tools, and fish stock. It is also calculated in quality and quantity, by the cost for cleaning dump areas, and the reduction of touristic appeal. TOURISM The economic impact on tourism is remarkable, due to reduction of aesthetic value of the environment.

6 Legambiente s volunteers studied the samples collected from 29 Italian beaches during a two month period. Various other organizations conducted the same survey on 25 other Med beaches involved in Clean up the Med. All studies were conducted following the official monitoring protocol developed by the Ministry of Environment and ISPRA..

7 The studies were conducted on a beach running perpendicular to the coastline. We used a sample space approximately 2 meters by 100 meters (ex. yellow lines in the photo) and recorded all items found on the surface (without digging). Main survey index: -waste composition -quantity and size (<25 cm<) -Legambiente used OSPAR waste categories as a reference.

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9 The survey was conducted on 29 italian beaches (an overall area of sqm) about 20 football fields). We found 22,114 pieces of litter, of which 77% was smaller than 25 cm. In an average area, we found 17 objects every 100 sqm (5 more as compared to the 2014 survey). The most common material found was plastic, around 80% (in 2014 it was 65%). The items were comprised of bottles, bags, caps, and polystyrene, cutlery; in total there was an amount of 17,560 objects.

10 If we exclude small plastic/polystyrene pieces up to 50cm, (the most common litter with 23,5%), in the list of whole litter, we would find plastic bottles (10,3%), followed by caps and lids (both plastic and metal 6,9%). Fishing nets, traps, and boxes come in third with 6,5% and a total of almost 1500 objects. Classic cigarette butts are in fourth with 5,4%. We also found sewage related debris which appears on the beaches via rivers and streams. Finally, plastic cutlery, construction materials, cleaners, glass bottles, and food containers close out this particular category. Plastic bottles 10,3% Caps/Lids 6,9% Fishing litter 6,5% Cigarette butts 5,4% Sewage related debris 4,9% Cutlery/trays/straws 4,8% Construction material 4,0% Cleaner (bottles, containers and drums) 3,8% Glass bottles 3,3% Food containers incl. Fast food containers 1,9%

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12 Overall, we found the total plastic percentage on Med beaches lower than Italian beaches. This was 52,1%, whereas the Italian average was 80%. We also found roughly the same objects: plastic bottles; caps/lids; cigarette butts; and fishing litter. The only exception was the presence (7,3%) of plastic bags. This pheonomoon may likely be explained, in part, because of the Italian ban on traditional plastic bags (a factor not present in other countries). Plastic bottles 12,5% Caps/Lids 8,6% Plastic bags 7,3% Cigarette butts 5,5% Fishing litter 3,8% Glass bottles 3% Drink cans 2,4% Small plastic bags, e.g. freezer bags 2,0% Food containers 1,9% Syringes 1,6%

13 Croatia: from south to north Beach Bile in Kastel Stafilic, Javorika bay beach in Brijuni National Park; in Istria region Maslinica, Lanterna, Tropic beach and Girandela beach in Rabac Thanks to the organisations that took part in the Clean Up the Med, the beaches studied were located in: Portugal: Senhor do Rio beach in Monção and Ribeira das Lages in Lisbon. Spain: Playa de Gola and Playa de Patacona in Valencia. Algeria: Les Salines beach in Oued ou Bey. Tunisia: Tazarka beach in Nabeul. Turkey: Akyaka, Akçapinar and Akçapinar Kite Surf beach; in Istanbul Ketendere beach. Greece: in Rodi Agathi Beach; in Faliraki, Kolympia and Afantou beach; in Creta island Ammoudara Beach; in Heraklion Panormo, Pigianos Kampos; Adelianos Kampos in Rethymno; one in Batsi on Andros; Lagonissi in Athens; Dassia on Corfù island.

14 Litter density average % PLASTIC % Main categories (n/100sqm) Algeria 28 70% 40% Bottles* 12% Bags* Croatia 21 41% 16% 5 % Caps/lids** Fishing Greece 4 57% 16 % 6 % Bottles* Cigarette butts 7% Cans 3 % Bottles* 6% Caps/lids** Italy 16 80% 10% Bottles* Portugal 3 25% 39% Other glass items Spain 2 63% 33 % Bags* Turkey 33 63% 12 % Cigarette butts 7% Caps/lids** 12 % Cigarette butts 14% Caps/lids 9% Bags* 7% Fishing 4% Cartons e.g. Tetrapak milk 5% Cotton budsticks 9 % Caps/lids** Tunisia 8 44% (1) (1) (1) *plastic // ** both plastic and metal // (1) For Tunis only materials average is available: 44% of litter is composed by plastic, 15% by paper or carboard and 11 % by metal.

15 Find more on: Cover picture by Nunzio D Apolito LEGAMBIENTE S BEACH LITTER SURVEY IS SPONSORED BY