Assessing actual costs of different protocols The protocols contain estimations of the cost. The estimates include cost of labour in different phases of monitoring, cost of equipment and running costs (ship time, etc.). Table 1 below provides an overview of estimation of costs, level of expertise required and potential performers, in the different stages of data collection and analysis, for the different protocols. Please note that these are very rough estimates, as the staff-costs vary considerably across countries. Estimated Costs and Level of Expertise Beach Water Biota Microlitter Protocol Visual Diving (Shallow) Trawling (20-800m) ROV (Deep) Visual ship surveys Biota Cost Cost categories L – LOW: € 1-10k; M – MEDIUM: €10 - 50k; H – HIGH: €50-100 k; VH – VERY HIGH: > € 100k Collection of samples L/M M/H L/M M/V L L/M M L12 M L/M M M10 M Analysis of samples L M L M L M/H M M M L H H H H Protocol Visual Diving (Shallow) Trawling (20-800m) ROV (Deep) Visual ship surveys Biota Statistical analysis M M L M L M L M M L M M M M Equipment L M L/M9 VH M L/H M L M L H H H H Overall L/M M L/M VH M L/M M M M L/M M/H H H H Required expertise tidal tidal
10.2.1 Biota Sea-birds (Plastic as nest material & entanglement) LOW In development LOW MEDIUM L LOW/ MEDIUM MEDIUM Depends on geographic coverage of birds breeding colonies; Focus on marine sources (e.g. ropes/nets) Can be used during surveys for other studies on 10.2.1 Entanglement LOW In development LOW MEDIUM L/M LOW/ MEDIUM MEDIUM Low occurrence rates in Numbers of beached cetaceans often high. Pathologists may be able to distinct if animal died in active or lost/discarded fishing gear Pathologic investigations of dead mammals need to include assessment for cause of death 10.2.1 Biota Marine Mammal (ingestion) LOW In development MEDIUM MEDIUM/ HIGH M MEDIUM MEDIUM (depends on occurrence of species) rates of ingested litter are low but number of pathologic investigated animals is also low – needs further development Can be applied as part of necropsies procedures of marine mammals 10.2.1 Biota Marine invertebrates (ingestion) LOW In development MEDIUM/ HIGH MEDIUM/ HIGH H LOW/ MEDIUM HIGH Insufficient data to support recommendation as an indicator Potentially coupled with Monitoring of Contaminants (D8) if filtering/detritivores organisms are used? birds.
10.1.3 Beach LOW HIGH HIGH M/H MEDIUM Size ≤ 5 mm HIGH Probably the most widely sampled compartment but approaches to date have been variable, which limits comparability Sampling can be coupled with Beach protocol for or in parallel with any other routine intertidal monitoring (for chemical contaminants, biota) 10.1.3 Micro Sub-tidal LOW (very limited use to date) HIGH HIGH H MEDIUM Size ≤ 5 mm HIGH Equipment is only available/used in the EU by one organisation and used along standard shipping routes so limited flexibility in terms of options for spatial monitoring Can be coupled with other monitoring programmes that involve sampling the sea-floor 10.1.3 Micro Water LOW (several pilots in NEA and Med) MEDIUM MEDIUM/ HIGH H MEDIUM Size ≤ 5 mm HIGH Can be insensitive to fraction < 3mm Can be coupled with other monitoring programmes that involve sampling the sea-surface 10.1.3 Water Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) LOW HIGH HIGH H MEDIUM Size ≤ 5 mm HIGH Can be insensitive to fraction > 3mm Can be coupled with surveys involving CPR. Possibly Biological Diversity (D1) macro-
working groups, etc. 327 439 * 4 for survey ** Central training event Table 3: Estimation of effort for beach litter monitoring Coordination Without coordination at a regional/national a monitoring system for beach litter cannot be permanently maintained. Tasks of the regional coordinator are: identification and setting up of survey sites contact with the organizations/institutions carrying out the surveys development & maintenance of the survey system training of surveyors entering the data into the database/QA of data maintaining the database data analysis reporting (further) development of methodology participation in national and international workshops, working groups, etc. The coordination requires an office with communication facilities (phone, e-mail, internet access) and transportation. For the overall coordination of four survey sites ca. 330 hours will be necessary in order to set up the monitoring system and about 250 hours/year will be required to maintain the system (see Table 3 above). Carrying out the surveys The actual cost of carrying out the surveys will depend on whether professional surveyors are paid to do the work or whether a system of volunteer surveyors from for example nature or environmental groups and societies is used. Using volunteers will increase the work load of the regional coordinator using professional workers will increase the costs of the surveys themselves. If the weight of the litter is to be recorded (e.g. HELCOM Recommendation) this will increase the cost of the surveys considerably, since the effort (= number of hours) is significantly larger. Carrying out the survey Days/survey site/year 8 6 Hours/survey site/year 48
5.1 - Categories and sub-categories of litter items for Sea-Floor Litter categories from the OSPAR/ICES / IBTS for North East Atlantic and Baltic A: Plastic B: Metals C: Rubber D: Glass/ Ceramics E: Natural Clothes F: A1. Bottle B1. Cans (food) C1. Boots D1. Jar E1. Clothing/ rags F1. Wood (processed) A2. Sheet B2. Cans (beverage) C2. Balloons D2. Bottle E2. Shoes F2. Rope A3. Bag B3. Fishing related C3. bobbins (fishing) D3. piece E3. F3. Paper/ cardboard A4. Caps/ lids B4. Drums C4. tyre D4. other F4. pallets A5. Fishing line (monofilament) B5. appliances C5. other F5. other A6. Fishing line (entangled) B6. car parts A7. Synthetic rope B7. cables Related size categories
A8. Fishing net B8. A: <5*5 cm= 25 cm2 A9. Cable ties B: <10*10 cm= 100 cm2 A10. Strapping band C: <20*20 cm= 400 cm2 A11. crates and containers D: <50*50 cm= 2500 cm2 A12. Plastic diapers E: <100*100 cm= 10000 cm2= 1 m2 A13. sanitary towel/tampon F: >100*100 cm = 10000 cm2= 1 m2 A14. Other Litter categories from MEDITS litter for Mediterranean and Black Sea