@article{article_1008731, title={Benthic marine litter in the Marmara Sea, Turkey}, journal={Ege Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences}, volume={39}, pages={111–119}, year={2022}, DOI={10.12714/egejfas.39.2.04}, url={https://izlik.org/JA58HD48BF}, author={Şirin, Murat and Daban, İsmail Burak and İşmen, Ali and Arslan İhsanoğlu, Mukadder}, keywords={MEDITS, benthic litter, plastic waste, marine pollution, Marmara Sea}, abstract={<div style="text-align:justify;"> <br /> </div> <hr /> <div style="text-align:justify;">This study presents the first data on the benthic marine litter in the Marmara Sea, Turkey. To obtain the data, bottom trawl surveys were conducted at 34 sites between May 2017 and February 2018. The litter items were sampled and sorted following the MEDITS’ relevant instructions. 660 pieces of litter, weighing 434.9 kg, were sampled. The litter density was found to range between 27.5 n/km <sup>2 </sup> and 661.2 n/km <sup>2 </sup>, averaging 73.9 n/km <sup>2 </sup>, and the obtained items’ weightss ranged between 0.03 kg/km <sup>2 </sup> and 1597.8 kg/km <sup>2 </sup>, averaging 48.7 kg/km <sup>2 </sup>. The plastic group L1 constituted 71.7% of the trawled litter. The highest mean litter density was detected in the Northeastern Marmara Sea in spring and summer in 2018. The mean benthic litter density was found to be higher than the nearby areas. It was concluded that more effort should be invested in reducing marine pollution. </div> <hr /> <div style="text-align:justify;"> <br /> </div>}, number={2}, organization={(TAGEM) General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policy}