MARINE LITTER OBSERVATORY OF FUERTEVENTURA BIOSPHERE RESERVE

The Marine Litter Observatory is a project to generate scientific knowledge developed by the Fuerteventura Biosphere Reserve in collaboration with the MITECO Biodiversity Foundation, co-financed by the PLEAMAR program of the European Maritime Fishing Fund (FEMP), whose objective is to monitor the amount of marine waste that reaches both the coast and the surrounding waters of the island of Fuerteventura through synergies with different groups, where the collection of f̈loating garbages̈tands out through the participation of professionals from the fishing sector for its subsequent classification. and revaluation. The Project began in November 2020 and following the methodology of guideline 10 of the MITECO Spanish Marine Strategies, in a single year 28 tons of marine waste have been collected from the coast of Fuerteventura and a total of 450,000 items have been classified, of which 70% are from the category of plastics, highlighting above all those for single use. According to the Tudor&Williams methodology, the sources of origin are b̈each tourismänd l̈eisure and hospitalitÿ, unlike other Spanish communities where the main source of origin is f̈ishing̈, although if you had the option öceanic dynamicsg̈iven the degradation and the real origin of the marine debris found would be this one with the highest percentage. However, the floating garbage is 90% illegal fishing gear. The results serve to improve governance towards a sustainability model based on the circular economy and greater innovation for the revaluation of the waste that arrives. In addition, it has made it possible to expand the campaigns on cigarette butts (which are in the TOP 10 of the 120 items collected) or the close relationship between the concentration of waste from water treatment and the increase in occupation on the island. Also see: https://micro2022.sciencesconf.org/427442/documentIn MICRO 2022, Online Atlas Edition: Plastic Pollution from MACRO to nan