Year: 2026
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Plastic pollution is increasingly recognized as a threat to Arctic and SubArctic ecosystems, affecting wildlife across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments. While much attention has been directed toward quantifying plastic loads, less is known about the direct interactions between wildlife and plastic debris, particularly in high-latitude regions. To address this knowledge gap, the citizen science project Plastics & Wildlife in the Arctic, SubArctic and Northern Europe (https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/plastics-wildlife-in-the-arctic-subarctic-and-northern-europe) invites contributions from nature enthusiasts, hunters, fishermen, schools, researchers, and citizens at large. This initiative is part of the Horizon Europe ArcSolution project and focuses on instances of harmful and non-harmful interactions of wildlife with plastic litter. This include observations such as entanglement in nets, lines, or packaging; ingestion of plastics; use of plastic items as nesting material; biofouling of organisms attached to litter; and other direct interactions. Observations can easily be reported via the user-friendly iNaturalist mobile app or web platform, with or without photographic evidence. Contributions may be identified at species level or broader taxonomic categories, ensuring accessibility for both experts and non-experts. Incidences of wildlife interacting with plastic debris will be more likely in urban areas and at pollution hotspots such as landfills. However, they can also occur in remote areas, e.g. on shorelines or in bird colonies. All observations are relevant for the project. However, we are not interested in observations of animals caught in e.g. active hunting and fishing gear and neither bycatches - only if remains are left behind as litter in the environment. To harmonise reporting, contributors are asked to provide additional metadata including animal condition, type of interaction, litter category, and location details. This systematic approach enables the compilation of harmonised datasets across a broad geographic range, with information on the most frequently impacted species and types of impacts. Moreover, public participation fosters awareness of the impacts of plastic litter on Arctic biodiversity. Ultimately, this initiative contributes to improved knowledge on the ecological consequences of plastic pollution, as also addressed by the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), strengthening both scientific understanding and societal engagement in protecting fragile northern ecosystems.
Author: Strand, Jakob
Language: English
Subfield: Pollution
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: gold
Funder: European Commission
OpenAlex ID: W7127772624
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