Towards a comprehensive European strategy to assess and monitor aquatic litter including plastic and microplastic pollution

Expected Outcome:
In line with the European Green Deal, notably the EU zero pollution action plan, a successful proposal will contribute to the impacts of this Destination related to addressing pollution for a healthier ocean, seas and waters.

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• harmonised and coordinated approaches across the EU for monitoring aquatic litter in European freshwater and marine environments;
• improved knowledge and FAIR data enabling a comprehensive assessment of litter sources, pathways, degradation, spatial distribution including on the seabed and sediment,
• hotspots and areas of accumulation as well as the resulting risks for aquatic biodiversity at EU scale and at basin level;
• implementation of optimised, validated, harmonised, cost-effective, and pan-European monitoring strategies for freshwater, coastal and marine environments, which are taken up by
• relevant environmental authorities in the EU;
• strengthened cooperation between scientific institutions and relevant environmental authorities responsible for monitoring pollution in freshwater and marine environments at EU and national level, fostering competence in monitoring aquatic litter in the EU;implementation of related EU policies, in particular baselines, threshold-setting and identification of changes in levels of plastic litter and microplastics in freshwaters as well as all coastal and marine compartments under the MSFD.

Who is eligible?