Vessel-based photographic assessment of beach litter in remote coasts. A wide scale application in Saronikos Gulf, Greece. (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Papachristopoulou, Irene; Filippides, Anastasios; Fakiris, Elias; Papatheodorou, George
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 150(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: Marine litter -- Beach litter -- Shoreline litter -- Remote beaches -- Vessel-based photography -- Saronikos gulf Greece; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110684
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: The abundance of marine debris was quantified for a total of sixty-two inaccessible beaches in the western Saronikos Gulf, Greece. High resolution images were obtained through vessel-based photography survey, merged into seamless photomosaics, and manually processed to quantify beach litter abundance. A sample of four selected beaches were subjected to detailed photography followed by beach macro-litter (≥ 2.5 cm) in-situ sampling surveys over a period of one year, to calibrate and validate the proposed method. Regression analysis between photographic and in-situ data showed a significant correlation, hence providing a highly accurate regression model to assess the real number of beach litter stranded on the rest of the investigated beaches, exhibiting clear correlations to the hydrodynamic status of the area and, provide an indication of the main litter sources. The proposed method is an easily applicable and useful tool for fast and low-cost macro-litter monitoring in extended, remote coastlines, when only photographic data are available. Highlights: Vessel-based, beach litter monitoring. High resolution, fast, low cost and easily applicable method for photographic beach litter identification. Macro-litter monitoring in extended, remote, inaccessible coastlines. Beach litter assessment for the inaccessible beaches of western Saronikos Gulf, Greece.