The Project Derelict Fishing Gear in the Adriatic Sea (DeFishGear) is addressing the wider marine litter issue to ultimately provide a key strategic input on a regional level.
Duration
30 months from 01/10/2013 to 31/03/2016
30 months from 01/10/2013 to 31/03/2016
Website:
http://www.defishgear.net/
http://www.defishgear.net/
General aims
- The project addresses the problem of polluting the sea with marine litter and the economic impact on coastal communities
- The monitoring and reduction of the quantity of microplastics in the marine environment and their effects on marine organisms
- Setting up a system for collection and recycling of derelict fishing gear, including the so called ghost nets, and collection of floating litter and litter from the sea bottom, caught in the nets while fishing
- Developing a coordinated and integrated approach at international level for the measurement and monitoring of marine litter and microplatsics on both coasts as well as in the sea and on the seabed.
CMCC Role
CMCC contribution will focus on the definition of optimal methodologies for monitoring of litter in the marine domain. CMCC will use the Adriatic Forecasting System (AFS) model output dataset to develop litter dispersion scenarios. The modelling methodologies will be integrated with the in situ monitoring techniques.
Expected results
- Strategy for reducing marine litter pollution in the Adriatic Sea
- First assessment of marine litter pollution in the Adriatic sea (Geo-referenced data, Regional database in line with MSDF ad INSPIRE, Socio-economic analysis on marine litter and pilot projects).
- Better Knowledge on microplastic pollution
- Regional network of experts
Activity
CMCC will focus on the following activities:
- Assessment of litter pathways and identify possible area of accumulation;
- Developing scenarios based on Lagrangian simulations coupled with AFS;
- Integrating the modelling techniques into the monitoring strategy;
- Using the modelling tools to optimize the in situ sampling strategies
Partners
- Agricultural University of Tirana - Laboratory of Fisheries and Aquaculture
- Regional Council of Lezha
- Hydro-Engineering Institute of the Faculty of Civil Engineering
- Institute for Oceanography and Fisheries
- RERA - Public Institution RERA SD for coordination and development of Split Dalmatia County
- Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development
- HCMR - Hellenic Center for Marine Research
- ISPRA - Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research
- Ca' Foscari University of Venice - Department of Philosophy and Cultural Heritage
- Mediterranean Consortium
- ARPA Emilia-Romagna - Regional Agency for Environmental Protection in the Emilia-Romagna Region
- University of Montenegro, Institute of marine biology
- Institute for water of the Republic of Slovenia
- University of Nova Gorica, The Laboratory for Environmental Research