Event title: Plastic pollution in the Southern Ocean: a global outlook

Date: 10 March 2022

Summary:
Plastic pollution has become a global environmental issue, reaching even the most pristine and remote wildernesses of our planet such as the Southern Ocean (SO). SO biodiversity and ecosystem functions are vulnerable to plastic pollution and detrimental impacts are expected on wildlife. Understanding the sources of plastics entering from within and outside the SO and quantifying the scale of the problem are necessary to minimize any environmental threat to SO biodiversity and ecosystem services. This Satellite activity aims to engage a conversation on plastic pollution in the SO within the broader perspective of the Global Ocean. Innovative solutions and mitigating actions at national and global levels to tackle the issue of plastic pollution in this region will been envisaged.

pdf Summary slides of the event (669 KB) .

Host:
SCAR Plastic in Polar Environments Action Group steering committee

Moderators:
Clara Manno, British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge (UK)
Claire Waluda, British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge (UK)
Ilaria Corsi, University of Siena (Italy)
Cath Waller, University Hull (UK)
Elisa Bergami, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy)

Panelists:
Steve Fletcher, Director of the Sustainability and the Environment Research Theme, University of Portsmouth, UK
Hyoung Chul Shin, Vice President of Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI), Korea 
Louise Emmerson, Australian Antarctic Division, Australia   
Marcelo Leppe Cartes, Director, Nacional del Instituto Antártico Chileno, Chile
Dr Ilka Peeken, marine biologist, Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany

Key audience:
Multidisciplinary audience with different backgrounds (academics, businesses, environmental agencies, management bodies) both operating in the SO and those externally who have an impact on the SO.

Contact

The chairs of the Plastic-AG are This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Membership

If you are interested in joining Plastic-AG, please sign up to the list server circulation list here.

Members of the Plastic-AG Steering Committee:

Group members:

Plastics Data on SOOSmap.

Data from Plastics-AG will be managed by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Plastics Data on SOOSmap

SOOSmap gives you access to data from key circumpolar research programmes. In SOOSmap, you can explore temporal, spatial, and thematic distributions of observing platforms. These platforms include Argo floats, MEOP seals, continuous plankton recorder tows, tide gauges. For data types that are not yet fully standardised and aggregated, like the SOOS Mooring Network, SOOSmap provides links to the data centres that hold the data from each of the platforms. The observing platforms are given context by a series of base layers, including CCAMLR regions, sea surface temperature, and sea-ice concentration.

For more information, and to use the product, visit SOOSmap on the SOOS website.

Publications from Plastic-AG, and other relevant publications.