Marine litter is a global environmental issue that threatens ecosystems. In European seas, this issue is regulated by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), which aims to achieve or maintain Good Ecological Status (GES), through the implementation of appropriate measures. To assess the state of the sea and the effectiveness of these measures, marine litter monitoring is crucial and requires standardized protocols.

In collaboration with the ReSEAclons association and professional fishermen, WAO Nature & Conservation is studying the feasibility of using fishing gear as indicators to assess the categories and quantities of marine litter, as well as their spatio-temporal distribution. Indeed, following the example of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), a bio-indicator species, octopus pots (Octopus vulgaris) and gillnets could, in turn, become indicators for monitoring this pollution.