Marine Litter
Marine litter is widespread and poses a threat to wildlife in and around the sea, and may also pose a risk to human health. Marine litter has recently gained significant attention and there is now a consensus for action. However, that requires more knowledge and a thorough understanding of this increasing global problem.
SALT maps quantities and transport of marine litter, and we identify sources and causes to litter ending up in nature. The knowledge we build is then transfered into concrete preventative measures or communicated to decisionmakers. We want to contribute to an efficient and knowledge-based monitoring of marine litter, and to be able to track changes over time. SALT also plays an important role in the development of new value chains for marine litter or plastic waste from maritime industries. Last, but not least, SALT is a key player in organising profsessional beach clean-ups in Norway.
Projects
Publications
News
A deposit-refund scheme for fishing pots in commercial fisheries is unlikely to have a significant effect, according to a new report commissioned by FHF – Norwegian Seafood Research Fund and prepared by Menon Economics and SALT.
Loss of pots in commercial fishing is often caused by factors beyond the control of fishers, such as weather conditions and ocean currents. A deposit scheme is therefore expected to have limited impact on behaviour in the commercial fleet. Instead a dedicated cleanup fee could be a more targeted and effective measure.
At the same time, a deposit schemes may have a positive effect in recreational fishing. It therefore recommends testing such a scheme through a pilot project.
SALT will now assess key issues that need to be clarified before a potential pilot can be launched.
More information about the project is available in a press release from FHF – Norwegian Seafood Research Fund.
– Trails in the north cannot necessarily withstand the same level of wear and use as trails in the south. This is one of the reasons why monitoring environmental wear caused by increased traffic and tourism is important. Fragile Arctic ecosystems take a long time to recover, and climate change makes nature particularly vulnerable to long-term damage and shifts in biodiversity.
High North News has interviewed SALT researcher Eline Hutton about the research project SALT Trail 2.0. In this project, we map environmental wear using satellite data. The project is funded by ESA - European Space Agency.
Read the interview [here].