Shallow coastal litter in South Aegean Sea islands: abundance and sourcing

The problem of marine litter has garnered increasing scientific, governmental and civilian attention in the last 20 years due to its severe environmental, economic and logistical impacts. Coastal and islandic regions with high touristic value, are particularly vulnerable to said impacts. Diver-led cleanups constitute a common approach to that issue by combining litter collection alongside their monitoring, with community engagement by non-disruptive means. This study showcases the findings of one such effort across 16 islands of the Southern Aegean Sea over a two-year period. The results indicate the dominance of plastic and metallic items, associated with recreational and fishing activities, as well as urban/householding sources.