The Working Group on Biological Effects of Contaminants (WGBEC), the Working Group on Marine Sediments in Relation to Pollution (WGMS), and the Marine Chemistry Working Group (MCWG) are meeting to evaluate the results of marine litter monitoring and research activities – especially microplastics and their bioaccumulation, toxicity and adverse biological and chemical effects on a range of marine organisms and communities.
The biological effect of plastic particles has received plenty of attention over the last few years, and both microplastics and marine litter are very pertinent subjects in oceanic science.
Marine litter relates directly to Descriptor 10 of the EU's Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), a key strategic pillar for ICES.
