Microplastics A threat for the 2 Seas area?

Impact of microplastics

MONITORING

© ILVO -H. Hillewaert © ILVO -H. Hillewaert © ILVO -H. Hillewaert

© ILVO -H. Hillewaert

© ILVO -H. Hillewaert

© ILVO -H. Hillewaert

© ILVO -H. Hillewaert

© ILVO –L. Bonnier

© ILVO –L. Bonnier

© ILVO –L. Bonnier

© ILVO –L. Bonnier © ILVO

© ILVO – L. Devriese © ILVO – L. Devriese

What? European crossborder research within the Interreg IVA 2 Seas Programme

Who? 5 scientific research institutes

ILVO (BE)/Cefas (UK)/Deltares (NL)/Ifremer & Université de Brest (FR)

Why? Determination of occurrence of microplastics in the marine environment

Determination of their impact on marine ecosystem

Determination of their impact on economically important activities

Mitigation of possible risks of microplastics

MICRO

• Standard protocols

• Characterization of plastics

• Chemical load

• Microbial load

• Hotspots

IMPACT EVALUATION

• Exposure of key species

• Determination of

physiological and effect

parameters

• Plastic as vector for

chemicals and bacteria

SOCIO-ECONOMIC STUDY

• Aquaculture/mariculture/

fisheries

• Bacterial water quality

• Bacterial degradation of

microplastics

• Policy support model

Background picture: ©Crown copyright 2012, permission granted by Thomas Maes, Cefas

SEDIMENT / WATER / BIOTA

More info: www.ilvo.vlaanderen.be/micro