Trawling, sampling and taking action_SeaPaCS deliverables now out!

SeaPaCS project produced the following outputs now, open access and freely downloadable:

1.”SeaPaCS sampling log and samples”. The file contains two sheets: one is the sample log for the sampling performed on the 14th and 15th of July, in Anzio (RM), Italy (harbour and coastal samples), as well as a first description of the samples collected. The two tows with the neuston net allowed an approximate calculation of the average plastic concentration (particles > 300 µm) per cubic meter of seawater along the coast of Anzio. This is the updated version as there was a mistake in the number of plastics found (68 instead of 72 as wrongly reported previously). Available on Zenodo here https://zenodo.org/records/8420423

seapacs_fieldwork_20230714_aggiornato_zenodo1 Download

2. “SeaPaCS deliverable – protocol for plastic monitoring in citizen science”. The protocol has been freely adapted from “LADI and the Trawl” by Coco Coyle with Melissa Novaceski, Emily Wells and Max Liboiron, as published by the Civic Laboratory for Environmental Action Research, August 2016 (in the protocol referred to as “original document“, freely available at https://civiclaboratory.nl/2016/06/29/ladi-trawl/ ). The protocol, in both languages, consists of three parts: 1) how to build a DIY low cost manta trawl device (LADI – Low-Tech Aquatic Detection Debris Instrument) to monitor plastic pollution, adjusted to materials availability and costs in Italy; 2) how to monitor (the sampling itself and towing procedure); and 3) how to categorize plastic debris back on land. The protocol will be adopted by the sailing school of the Italian Naval League (Lega Navale Italiana) in 2024 who will be donated a low cost manta trawl device (LADI) to monitor plastic debris along the coast of Anzio (Rome, Italy), as a follow-up activity of SeaPaCS project. A video tutorial (in Italian only) is available on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kORl4GDr1Fc . Available on Zenodo here: https://zenodo.org/records/10051361

protocol_en-con-loghi Download

3. “Policy suggestions for the management of plastics collected in the Sea by Fishermen in Anzio – Rome (Italy)”. This document contains the description of the policy-suggestions elaboration process, the analysis of anonymised interviews and the photographic documentation. The policy suggestions are produced by the SeaPaCS team and delivered for potential implementation to the local institutions. Available also on Zenodo here: 10.5281/zenodo.10116400

seapacs-policy-guidelines-final Download

4. Graphic elaboration of the “SeaPaCS protocol for plastic monitoring in citizen science” and building up a L.A.D.I. trawling tool by Veronica Vitale.Available on Zenodo here:

5. A photographic catalogue titled “Making Science Public // Rendere la Scienza Pubblica. SeaPaCS – A catalogue of Participatory Explorations on Plastic Entanglements with Life in the Mediterranean Sea // SeaPaCS – Un catalogo delle Esplorazioni Partecipative sugli intrecci di Plastica e Vita nel Mare Mediterraneo”, including 24 artistic photographs by Giuseppe Lupinacci/Raw-News. Artistic and creative expression is a powerful means to stimulate the citizens’ interest in and fascination with the Ocean, and has the capacity to motivate, trigger and support commitments to socio-environmental issues. During the SeaPaCS project, photography called citizens to engage with the problem not merely cognitively, but also socially and emotionally. It crucially contributes to knowledge production on the investigated issue, fosters discussion on what is happening through the choice of frames, lights and contributes technical solutions, and triggers interventions, as emotion may lead to action. The catalogue is available on Zenodo at https://zenodo.org/records/10177446: