COastal Management and MOnitoring Network for tackling marine litter in Mediterranean sea

Programme 2014 - 2020 Mediterranean Sea Basin ENI CBC

Date of latest update: 2024-03-25

Description

Description (EN):

Marine litter is quickly becoming one of the main pollution sources of the Mediterranean Sea, with negative consequences for living marine organisms, marine ecosystems, human health and coastal activities, including tourism and fisheries. Combating the issue of marine litter requires a global effort at basin level through a multi-institutional and multi-stakeholder approach that tackles the different and competing environmental, economic, social, cultural and recreational drivers that can affect marine ecosystems. The COMMON project will apply the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) principles to the challenge of marine litter, improving knowledge of the phenomenon, enhancing the environmental performance of 5 pilot coastal areas in Italy, Tunisia and Lebanon, and engaging local stakeholders in marine litter management.

Achievements (EN):

Plastic accounts for 80% of the marine litter dispersed in the marine and coastal environment: of the over 90,000 objects collected on the beaches and analyzed using scientific protocols, harmonized among the different project partners, 17,000 (around 20%) were cigarette butts, and 6,000 were cotton buds. Of the over 700 specimens from 6 fish species that were analysed, one out of three fish ingested microplastics and more than half of the analyzed sea turtles were found to have ingested litter. The data obtained during the 3-year project confirms the impact of marine litter and microplastics on Mediterranean biodiversity, which is not only related to the physical harm to marine species but also the potential ecotoxicological effects related to the leaching of toxic compounds present in plastic particles both as additives and adsorbed contaminants. The results of the monitoring activities The project’s scientific monitoring activities focused on the analysis of macro-litter and microplastics on the beaches, on the sea surface, and ingested by mussels, commercially important fish species, and sea turtles. The investigations were conducted on eleven beaches of the pilot areas, and they showed that the most present material is plastic: of the more than 90,000 objects collected and analyzed, 17,000 (about 20%) are cigarette butts, followed by pieces of plastic with size between 2.5 and 50 centimetres (9%), derived from the result of the fragmentation of larger plastic objects, and 6,000 (about 7%) cotton bud sticks. More than half of the litter collected (53%) is represented by single-use plastic (SUPs). Regarding the investigation of microplastics in the water column, 130 samples were collected in three countries and five different areas with the manta net. The highest floating microplastic abundance was found in the waters facing the Tyre Reserve in Lebanon, particularly during the rainy season, demonstrating the strong influence of riverine run-off on the transport of marine litter and microplastics in the sea. The impacts of marine litter on marine wildlife are numerous, also due to the different shapes and sizes of litter: while on the one hand, they concern the entanglement of marine organisms mainly in fishing nets and other floating objects, on the other hand, the ingestion of litter can lead to malnutrition, death by suffocation, obstruction of the digestive tract, and starvation. In addition, the ingestion of plastic and microplastics can cause alterations to metabolic pathways and endocrine systems due to the release of toxic substances contained or absorbed by the plastic (e.g. phthalates, chlorinated organic compounds and other toxic substances) once inside organisms. During the COMMON project, the gastrointestinal tract of over 700 specimens of 6 commercially important fish species was analyzed: Engraulis encrasicolus (anchovy), Sardina pilchardus (sardine), Sardinella aurita (round sardinella), Boops boops (bogue), Mullus barbatus (red mullet), Lythognathus mormirus (striped seabream). Awareness Actions During the 3-years project, to promote the commitment of citizens and "sea users", about a hundred awareness-raising events have been organized for various stakeholders: fishermen, coastal establishments and economic-tourist operators, coastal city administrators, students, civil society, and other organizations. The fishermen encountered in the pilot areas – approximately 268 among single individuals and cooperatives – have been involved in workshops and seminars focused on the impacts of marine litter on their activity, and on the issue of managing accidentally collected litter during fishing activities. The tourist operators – approximately 80 – have been involved in workshops and in the summer awareness campaign BEach CLEAN, an initiative aimed at promoting better waste management in tourist-frequented beaches in the Mediterranean. The campaign involved 230 touristic operators to raise awareness among tourists and beachgoers. Furthermore, the project promoted the Clean Up The Med initiative, a large environmental volunteer initiative in its 30th edition, involving over 2,000 volunteers from 20 Mediterranean countries who took part in beach cleaning activities, removing 10 tons of marine litter along nearly 24,000 km of coastline. Network To address the need, to adopt common policies for waste management among the Mediterranean coastal countries, COMMON's activity has focused on coastal urban areas first, creating opportunities and places for meetings and discussions between local governments, production, and tourist activities. The activities of the Local Working Groups have involved various stakeholders and policymakers with the aim of training professionals and sector personnel to manage waste in coastal areas and prevent their dispersion into the environment. The meetings were also used to create a Network of coastal cities, promoting the exchange and sharing of best practices, which have been collected in the COMMON platform and are available for inspiration and replication.

Website: http://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/common

Expected Results (EN):

10 studies on linkages between marine litter issue and land-based human activities . 1 ICT platform for sharing methodologies and data on marine litter. 250 people trained on marine litter management . 30 municipalities involved in a network of coastal cities against marine litter. 4 reports containing legal recommendations and best practices for improving the management of marine litter and governance issues. 50 civil society organisations participating in beach cleanup campaigns.

Expected Outputs (EN):

3.1 - Studies on interlinkages between marine litter issue and human activities land-based and its impact, 3.2 - ICT platform for sharing methodologies and data on marine litter, 4.1 - Training activities for local stakeholders to introduce marine litter management in ICZM plans, 4.2 - Proposal of actions for developing public policies for an improved management of marine litter, 4.3 - Network of Coastal cities against marine litter, 5.1 - Local Knowledge sharing forums of local stakeholders involved in the marine litter issue, 5.2 - Cleaning up campaign, 5.4 - Awareness raising events.

Thematic information

Coastal management and maritime issues Waste and pollution

Thematic Objective: Environmental protection, climate change mitigation and adaptation

Partners (7)

Lead Partner: Legambiente Onlus

Address: Via Salaria 403, 199 Rome, Italy

Legal status: n/a

Website: http://www.legambiente.it

Total budget: EUR 435 981.13

ENI budget: EUR 392 383.02

Istituto agronomico mediterraneo di Bari (CIHEAM IAMB)

Name: Istituto agronomico mediterraneo di Bari (CIHEAM IAMB)

Address: Via Ceglie, 9 , 70010 Valenzano (BA), Italy

Legal status: n/a

Website: http://www.iamb.it/

Total budget: EUR 323 792.70

ENI budget: EUR 291 413.43

المعهد الوطني لعلوم و تكنولوجيا البحار

Name: المعهد الوطني لعلوم و تكنولوجيا البحار

Department: Fisheries Sciences Laboratory

Address: 28, rue du 2 mars 1934, 2035 Salambo, Tunisia

Legal status: n/a

Website: http://www.instm.agrinet.tn/

Total budget: EUR 377 292.70

ENI budget: EUR 339 563.43

أمواج البيئة

Name: أمواج البيئة

Department: Environment

Address: Verdun Street, Diamond (Jaber) bldg. 4th floor.Beirut, Lebanon

Legal status: n/a

Website: http://www.amwajenvt.com.lb

Total budget: EUR 196 018.65

ENI budget: EUR 176 416.79

المعهد الأعلى للعلوم الفلاحية بشط مريم

Name: المعهد الأعلى للعلوم الفلاحية بشط مريم

Address: B.P 47, 4042 Chott Mériem SousseTunis, Tunisia

Legal status: n/a

Website: http://www.isa-cm.agrinet.tn

Total budget: EUR 353 399.60

ENI budget: EUR 318 059.64

محمية شاطئ صور الطبيعية

Name: محمية شاطئ صور الطبيعية

Address: Tyre Coast Nature Reserve Visitor Center – Boulevard President Nabih Berri – behind Tyre Rest House HotelTyre, Lebanon

Legal status: n/a

Website: http://www.moe.gov.lb/ProtectedAreas/Tyre.htm

Total budget: EUR 210 126.60

ENI budget: EUR 189 113.94

Università degli studi di Siena

Name: Università degli studi di Siena

Address: Banchi di Sotto, 55, 53100 Siena, Italy

Legal status: n/a

Website: https://www.unisi.it/

Total budget: EUR 326 810.10

ENI budget: EUR 294 129.09

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Legambiente Onlus

COastal Management and MOnitoring Network for tackling marine litter in Mediterranean sea

Partners and Projects info

Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari - CIHEAM IAMB

COastal Management and MOnitoring Network for tackling marine litter in Mediterranean sea

Partners and Projects info

National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies

COastal Management and MOnitoring Network for tackling marine litter in Mediterranean sea

Partners and Projects info

Amwaj of the Environment

COastal Management and MOnitoring Network for tackling marine litter in Mediterranean sea

Partners and Projects info

High Institute of Agronomy of Sousse University

COastal Management and MOnitoring Network for tackling marine litter in Mediterranean sea

Partners and Projects info

Tyre Coast Nature Reserve

COastal Management and MOnitoring Network for tackling marine litter in Mediterranean sea

Partners and Projects info

Siena University

COastal Management and MOnitoring Network for tackling marine litter in Mediterranean sea

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): COastal Management and MOnitoring Network for tackling marine litter in Mediterranean sea

Project acronym: COMMON

Project start date: 2019-09-03

Project end date: 2022-09-02

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 2 223 421.48

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 2 001 079.33

Co-financing sources:

ENPI/ENI/NDICI: Amount, EUR 2 001 079.33.

Documents

Documents on this project are listed below, and organised by category. Please note field "Data source", attached to each document. Keep.eu users are free to use these documents as long as they mention the data source and keep.eu.

Reports

Data fine-tuning and studies delivery dies

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/common

Publication date: 2025-02-12

Document date: 2022-09-02

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Monitoring of Floating Marine Macro Litter

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/common

Publication date: 2025-02-12

Document date: 2022-12-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Tackling Marine Litter In Tunisia Actions And Recommendations

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/common

Publication date: 2025-02-12

Document date: 2023-12-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Studies / surveys

I- Literature review on litter sources and impact in the Mediterranean Sea environment

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/common

Publication date: 2025-02-12

Document date: 2022-03-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

II- Literature review on litter sources and impact in the Mediterranean Sea organisms

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/common

Publication date: 2025-02-12

Document date: 2022-03-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Videos / films

#COMMON A Massive Let’s Clean Up The Med! | #environment #plasticpollution #worldoceansday

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/common

Publication date: 2025-02-12

Document date: 2022-06-08

Languages: en

10 summer ECOTIPS to reduce marine litter!

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/common

Publication date: 2025-02-12

Document date: 2020-11-09

Languages: en

COMMON project in Tunisia, best of 2020

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/common

Publication date: 2025-02-12

Document date: 2021-02-17

Languages: en

COMMON project, the CIHEAM Bari participation

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/common

Publication date: 2025-02-12

Document date: 2020-08-25

Languages: en

COMMON project, the involvment of the tunisian INSTM

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/common

Publication date: 2025-02-12

Document date: 2020-08-25

Languages: en

COMMON project, the University of Siena contribution

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/common

Publication date: 2025-02-12

Document date: 2020-08-25

Languages: en

COMMON, a "very promising proposal"

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/common

Publication date: 2025-02-12

Document date: 2019-11-20

Languages: en

COMMON, the contribution of Sousse University

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/common

Publication date: 2025-02-12

Document date: 2019-11-20

Languages: en

Quit acting up and listen to what we have to tell you! | #mediterranean Day

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/common

Publication date: 2025-02-12

Document date: 2022-12-02

Languages: it, en

Serena Carpentieri, Legambiente: "COMMON: a project to connect science and policy"

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/common

Publication date: 2025-02-12

Document date: 2020-01-02

The Clean Up The Med Campaign landed in Tunisia

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/common

Publication date: 2025-02-12

Document date: 2020-10-30

Languages: fr

Un Ocean Conference 2022 - Science and awareness

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/common

Publication date: 2025-02-12

Document date: 2022-07-28

Languages: en

United for turtles!

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/common

Publication date: 2025-02-12

Document date: 2020-07-23

Languages: ar, en

We are your waste

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/common

Publication date: 2025-02-12

Document date: 2021-09-06

Languages: en

World Turtle Day: COMMON project to release two Caretta caretta sea turtles in Monastir, Tunisia

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/common

Publication date: 2025-02-12

Document date: 2020-05-26

Languages: en

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 Mediterranean Sea Basin ENI CBC

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2024-02-09

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

80 / 80 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

610 / 610 (100%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (http://www.enicbcmed.eu), or a website directly linked from it, on 2024-02-28. Fields project name (from 3 projects) translated from French into English using the European Commission's eTranslation machine translation service.

The projects which fields include an eTranslation English text are the ones with the following acronyms: RESMYLE, OENOMED and RE-MED.

Languages

Contact Form

COastal Management and MOnitoring Network for tackling marine litter in Mediterranean sea

Description

Thematic information

Partners (7)

Partners map

Summary

Documents

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Disclaimer