Presence of marine floating litter and vulnerable species in the Central Mediterranean Sea

Floating marine litter is a worldwide problem, causing significant pollution in seas and oceans and impacting various marine species. Among these species, cetaceans, such as whales and dolphins, and sea turtles are particularly vulnerable, suffering entanglement and ingestion as the primary consequences. These preliminary results show the distribution of key species, such as cetaceans and sea turtles, and marine litter in the Central Mediterranean Sea. Data were collected on board scientific vessels, ferries and cargo ships along different routes in the Strait of Sicily and the Gulf of Catania, applying the sampling method developed by the Fixed Line Transect Network. Information about the floating marine litter was collected including characteristics as the material, name, size, color and sector of use of each element. The constant presence of marine litter along all routes has been shown, with an abundance of plastic debris characterised by a range size of 2050 cm, and the attendance of several cetacean species in the areas most affected by this type of pollution. Therefore, an important overlapping between the zones in which cetaceans are regularly present and those with a high marine litter density has been found, bringing out new concerns about the state of waters in the areas studied and urging to find possible strategies to be applied for mitigating the problem.