Mapping marine debris on the Lofoten coast by GRID-Arendal - GRID-Arendal News
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Mapping marine debris on the Lofoten coast

Levi Westerveld & Joan Fabres

GRID-Arendal
By GRID-Arendal
In SOE & Spatial Planning
June 21st, 2017
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Where is marine debris most likely to be washed up in Norway? This is the question GRID-Arendal and SALT, a consultant company with experience and knowledge about the Norwegian coast, are trying to answer.

GRID-Arendal has done a lot of work on addressing plastic pollution in the marine environment – from cleaning up beaches close to home to producing reports for UN Environment. We know a lot about how plastic gets into the ocean, but have a limited understanding of what happens when it gets there.

That’s why we launched a coastal litter predictive mapping project this year. We joined our colleagues at SALT on the spectacular coastline of the Lofoten archipelago, north of the Arctic circle. There we found a lot of marine debris as we mapped more than 130 locations. Using mapping software, we also documented information about the geography of the coastline at each of these locations.

This map shows the nine main sampling sites in the Lofoten area. At each location, 15 beach transects were performed. Map by Levi Westerveld

This map shows the nine main sampling sites in the Lofoten area. At each location, 15 beach transects were performed. Map by Levi Westerveld

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Marthe Larsen Haarr and Joan Fabres take measurements at a site on the northern stretch of the Lofoten coastline. Photo: Levi Westerveld

Marthe Larsen Haarr and Joan Fabres take measurements at a site on the northern stretch of the Lofoten coastline. Photo: Levi Westerveld

From left to right, Marthe Larsen Haarr (SALT), Joan Fabres and Levi Westerveld (GRID-Arendal). Photo by Levi Westerveld.

From left to right, Marthe Larsen Haarr (SALT), Joan Fabres and Levi Westerveld (GRID-Arendal). Photo by Levi Westerveld.

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We used this data to construct a GIS model to determine the relationship between different physical characteristics of the coastline and the likelihood of marine debris accumulation. We also assessed the robustness of the model during two-days of fieldwork in Lofoten.

Marthe Larsen Haarr (SALT), Joan Fabres and Levi Westerveld (GRID-Arendal) working on the GIS model. Photo by Levi Westerveld.

Marthe Larsen Haarr (SALT), Joan Fabres and Levi Westerveld (GRID-Arendal) working on the GIS model. Photo by Levi Westerveld.

Marthe Larsen Haarr records the number of marine debris in one of the sites picked up by the model as ‘high accumulation zone’. Photo: Levi

Marthe Larsen Haarr records the number of marine debris in one of the sites picked up by the model as ‘high accumulation zone’. Photo: Levi

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The results were promising. It was fascinating to see that hotspots identified by our model -- often at very remote and sparsely populated locations -- had accumulated large amounts of debris. It also reinforced our concern about the magnitude of the problem, and the importance of finding out ways to stop the flow of garbage into the oceans. At one of the sites we used to test or “ground truth” our model, more than 300 pieces of debris were counted. We often found plastic waste such as rope, shredded sheets and bags, bottles and other containers.

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This video shows the larger pieces of plastic debris found lying in the grass at one of our study sites. Video by Levi Westerveld.

We also found some more surprising debris such as an old computer screen. Air in the cathode ray monitor enabled it to stay afloat and it was likely washed up on shore during a storm.

In the next few weeks, we will finalize the model and generate maps showing where marine debris is likely to accumulate on the Lofoten archipelago. These maps will be an important tool to calculate the total quantities of marine litter along the coast and will help plan beach-cleaning campaigns.

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Footnotes Header photo: Levi Westerveld

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