IMIS

SeaWatch-B Litter Dataset 2023-2024

Citable as data publication

Fockedey, N.; Dhaeze, M.; Quartier, M.; Vanhaecke, P.; Goossens, H.; Durinckx, F.; Van Belle, A.; Samyn, J-P.; Martens, P.; De Hondt, E.; Coppens, S.; Parrein, L.; Van Vlasselaer, J.; Hostyn, L.; Willaert, M.; Van Landschoot, W.; Verbeke, D.; Seys, J.; Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ): Belgium; (2025): SeaWatch-B Litter Dataset 2023-2024. Marine Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.14284/757

Contact: Fockedey, Nancy ;

Availability: This work is licensed under http://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/L08/current/MO meaning it is under moratorium until 2026-05-31

Description

Litter observations data during the years 2023 and 2024 at Belgian beaches (total count, total weight, categorisation). Data of the SeaWatch-B project, the beach observation network where citizens monitor the state of the Belgian North Sea from the beach. This citizen science project is supported by the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) and LifeWatch Belgium.

Data were repeatedly collected at the same stations (defined beaches). Approximately four times a year.

Parameter 9 of SW-B: Litter on the high-water mark - Method: Collect over a length of 100m in the strand line all artificial waste of at least 2.5cm in size: plastic, rubber, textiles, paper, metal, glass, etc. Count the number of items and measure total weight with the crane scale (grams). Record both figures. Take one or more pictures of all the waste, with the ruler next to it.

Parameter 15 of SW-B: Litter on the high-water mark: J-List - Method: Collect over a length of 100m in the strand line all artificial waste of at least 2.5cm in size: plastic, rubber, textiles, paper, metal, glass, etc. (idem parameter 9) – also man-made and/or processed stones and wood. Score all items in categories according to the J-List* and count them. (* New guidelines for monitoring marine litter - Advice by Joint Research Centre of European Commission (since 12 December 2023))

Acknowledgment: Data were collected by many volunteers. We would like to thank all of them for their valuable contributions.

Scope

Themes:

Environmental quality/pollution > Pollution levels & monitoring

Keywords:

Coastal environment · Environmental pollution · Macrolitter · Marine pollution · Plastic litter · Plastic pollution · Belgian Coast

Geographical coverage

Belgian Coast [Marine Regions]

Temporal coverage

11 February 2023 - 13 December 2024
Seasonally

Contributors

Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee (VLIZ), more, data creator, data manager