Author Description

A technical subgroup under the Working Group on GES for the further development of Descriptor 10 Marine Litter was established within the implementation strategy for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive 2008/56/EC (MSFD) and the Commission Decision on Criteria and Methodological Standards on Good Environmental Status (GES) of Marine Waters (Commission Decision 2010/477/EU). The group consisted of 42 experts and was chaired by Ifremer, EC JRC IES and the German Environment Agency. The group developed an overview about existing data and methodologies for the monitoring of marine litter. Appropriate monitoring methodologies have been identified for beach, surface water, biota and microlitter, and altogether 15 monitoring tools have been described in relation to the indicators for Marine Litter. Sources of marine litter, issues on targets and objectives relevant to MSFD as well as research needs have been discussed and a roadmap for the further implementation of Descriptor 10 has been developed.