Microplastics in Mediterranean threaten both marine species, humans: Expert

By Yasemin Kalyoncuoglu

ANTALYA, Turkey (AA) - An increase in the amount of microplastics in the Mediterranean Sea poses a threat to marine life, as well as human health, according to an expert.

"Microplastic pollution in the Mediterranean is increasing by the day and is one of the most important problems in the Mediterranean," marine biologist Ahmet Erkan Kideys told Anadolu Agency at the 22nd Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols, also known as COP22, being held in Turkey's resort city of Antalya.

While a large item of trash can lead to the death of a single aquatic animal, the numerous shavings released in the form of microplastics as a piece of debris dissolves can be consumed by a myriad of organisms, from plankton to whales, and accumulate in their bodies through the food chain, said Kideys, a faculty member at Middle East Technical University (ODTU) in Turkey.

"We find microplastics in the stomachs and gut of most of the fish we analyze, as well as in mussels. Microplastics can also pass on to people who consume fish or mussels," he said, noting that most of the garbage that finds its way into the sea is carried there via rivers.

Underlining that besides governments, individuals must also take on important responsibilities to combat the microplastics problem, Kideys said that in order to protect the Mediterranean Sea, more of the coast needed to be placed in marine protected zones.

- Invasive species

Another major problem for the Mediterranean is the rise in invasive species, which often travel there by sticking to the bottom of ships or via the Suez Canal, said Kideys.

"It is very difficult to prevent this. But, the transportation of new species has to be stopped somehow," stressed Kideys, pointing out the importance of developing scientific research-based measures to prevent invasive species from arriving.

"If native species disappear, the ecosystem will deteriorate," he said.

- COP22

Kideys underlined the importance of COP22, which will end on Friday, amid efforts to solve the problems facing the Mediterranean Sea.

He said that with environmental projects recently launched by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and first lady Emine Erdogan on waste and marine waste minimization, Turkey had the potential to be an international leader.

The most important aspect of the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP), established in 1975 as a multilateral environmental agreement, was that it brought 25 coastal countries together to take measures and decisions on their common sea basin, said Kideys.

Underlining that issues concerning the sea could only be resolved if all coastal countries took joint action, the scientist said that the MAP had achieved progress in implementing solutions to problems related to pollution in the Mediterranean.

While some problems have been solved, new ones have also emerged, noted Kideys adding that the biggest issue that climate change was the biggest problem that the world currently faces and could trigger an unprecedented decline in marine biodiversity.

Environment ministers and delegates from 21 Mediterranean countries, as well as EU and UN representatives, are attending COP22, which is held every other year.

The convention constitutes a multilateral legal framework for the protection of the marine and coastal environment, and sustainable use of resources in the Mediterranean.

The Mediterranean Action Plan of the UN Environment Program (UNEP/MAP) is a regional cooperation platform established as the first regional action plan under the UNEP Regional Seas Program.

Although the Mediterranean covers just 1% of the global ocean surface, it is home to more than 17,000 marine species, corresponding to some 4%-18% of the world's known marine species.

In 1975, 16 Mediterranean countries and the European Community adopted MAP, and Turkey became a party to the convention in 1982.​​​​​​​