Shape and Color Characteristics of Microplastics:
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The Tall Ships Races
July 2022 Nordic Ocean Watch Denmark once again embarked Bark Europa this time for the Tall Ships Races. We sailed as a Cruise-in-Company from Harlingen, The Netherlands across the Wadden Sea and the North Sea to Antwerp, Belgium. Both Harlingen and Antwerp where Tall Ships Race ports and where full of beautiful square rigged ships and sturdy long rigged schooners.
The Tall Ships Races is the largest annual event organised by Sail Training International. It's a summer series held in European waters where ports along the route is hosting festivals that can be expected to bring millions of visitors. Sports, social, and cultural activities is planned for the crew members. The first Tall Ships' race was held in 1956. It was a race of 20 of the world's remaining large sailing ships. Since then Tall Ships' Races have occurred annually in various parts of the world, with millions of spectators. Today, the race attracts more than a hundred ships, among these some of the largest sailing ships in existence.
Harlingen is one of the oldest seaports in The Netherlands, and it’s the gateway to northern Holland from the North Sea. Antwerp is Belgium’s second-biggest city and Europe’s second-largest port. When we arrived at Harlingen and Antwerp port we sat up a research tent at the key-side next to the impressive Tall ship Bark Europa. Many came by the research tent during our days at port to hear about our expeditions and our research onboard Bark Europa.
Photo by Regitze Andersen
Photo by Regitze Andersen
Abi Smyth from Bangor University, Wales conducted a research on Bark Europa about ocean acidification and the impact on plankton abundance along a transect from Horta, Portugal to Harlingen, The Netherlands from May-July 2022.
Carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere is making our oceans more acidic, but we don’t really know the impact this has on the organisms that live there. Her study aims to find out how this affects plankton, the base of the food chain.
Abi and I spend our days at port explaining about our individual research to everyone interested that came by our research tent. They could look at microscopes with different plankton species and microplastic particles found in the Atlantic Ocean.
The children could carry out their own simulation experiment and trawl for microplastics with a mini manta trawl in a water tank. Then they would look in a microscope to see what they had collected and try and identify the microplastic particles.
We shared our knowledge about our research and talked about plastic pollution and its impact on the environment and marine life. Everyone found it an important subject and was very interested in learning more about our research.
Karl Beerenfenger from The Netherlands who is the project manager for circular economy at Recycling Network Benelux and campaign leader at Plastic Butt Collective had brought along a ghost net. Ghost nets are old fishing nets discarded into the ocean from the fishing industry or from land. They are very dangerous for marine animals, because they easily get entangled in them. The animals are often unable to free themselves from the net, consequently leading to the death of the animals.
Everyone was very interested in learning more about ghost nets and plastic pollution. The children enjoyed to free the entangled animals from the net and tried to guess the different species.
To put an even greater focus on ocean pollution we went to the local beach in both Harlingen and in Antwerp to do a beach cleanup together with the guests onboard Bark Europa.
At the local beach in Antwerp we found thousands and thousands of plastic nurdles. Plastic nurdles are small plastic pellets. They are used as raw material in plastic production. During production and transportation these can be spilled into the environment and they are often found along beaches and cost lines.
They are also called mermaid tears by environmental organisations and due to their size and often clear color, nurdles can look like fish eggs, making them particularly attractive to seabirds, fish and other marine wildlife. Furthermore plankton and other small marine organisms attach to its surface, which means that a lot of marine animals end up eating these plastic pellets.
These pellets contains toxic chemicals that then end up in the animals eating them. The toxins bioaccumulate and extends up through the food chain. The pellet itself built up in the digestive system of the animal and it get a false feeling of feeling full, because plastic pellets are not digestible.
Over 20 companies is producing or processing plastic products in Antwerp, which makes the city particularly exposed to nurdles leaking into the environment. Nurdles are very difficult to clean from the environment because og their size and abundance. in November 2020 volunteers took part in a “nurdle hunt,” organized by Antwerpen Schaliegasvrij. They collected 22000 nurdles at 50 spots along the coast of Belgium. Read more about the “nurdle hunt” in Antwerpen here.
Photo by Arnoud Apituley
Photo by Arnoud Apituley
Onboard Bark Europa from Harlingen to Antwerp we gave talks to the guests and crew about ocean pollution and the consequence for the environment and marine life. We arranged workshops where we discussed solutions to plastic pollution and everyone could bring their ideas to the table.
It made for some good and constructive discussions and everyone showed great enthusiasm and interest for the topic.
A microplastic survey
In Septemper 2021 Nordic Ocean Watch Denmark joined the Tall Ship Bark Europa and embarked on an expedition crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way we collected data to investigate the problems facing our planet in connection with environmental pollution. We did this to create awareness about plastic pollution and the consequences for the ocean and marine life.
On board Bark Europa we conducted a research on the abundance and distribution of microplastic in the Atlantic Ocean on a crossing from Scheveningen, the Netherlands to Montevideo, Uruguay by collecting data from the sea surface using a manta trawl.
Laboratory Analysis
After disembarkation the samples are analysed in a laboratory in collaboration with Aalborg University, Department Of The Build Environment.
Microplastics in the marine environment are transported by means of physical processes such as surface drifting, vertical mixing, beaching, and settling. These physical processes are driven by the properties of the ocean and its currents, gyres, and physical oceanographic characteristics such as salinity and temperature. The transport of microplastics is also influenced by the particles themselves, as their size, shape, and physical characteristics affect the way they are transported.
Therefore every plastic particle collected is analysed in the laboratory at Aalborg University, Department Of The Build Environment. All particles are photographed and individually counted and weighed and their polymer type are analysed using infrared spectroscopy by an ATR-FTIR.
All particles are individually weighed using a weight scale to 0,00000 grams. Particles weighing below 0,00000 grams can not be weighed using this weight scale and their weight is therefore calculated using a mathematical calculation.
All particles are individually photographed. The plastic particles above 1 mm in size were photographed using this protocol. The plastic-looking particles are picked out under an optical microscope using forceps. The plastic sample is carefully placed onto a white background surface, ensuring an even spread of particles over the area. Using forceps, the particles are separated from each other, not touching each other. A size reference is on the background surface. An image is taken of the contents of each of the samples 20-30 cm away from the surface. The images should be taken near a light source, after the plastic has dried. Ensure that all particles are captured on the image and there is minimal interference from light and/or shadows. The sample is photographed including the date and time and the specific sample number and letter. Plastic particles below 1 mm are photographed individually using a stereo microscope.
All particles are analysed using ATR-FTIR-spectrometer for polymer identification. Infrared spectroscopy offers reliable identification of polymers.
Plastics are a wide range of synthetic materials with polymers as a main ingredient which makes it possible for plastics to be moulded and pressed into solid objects. Plastics are usually classified by the chemical structure of the polymer's backbone and side chains. The vast majority of these polymers are formed from chains of carbon atoms, with or without the attachment of oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur atoms.
Although nearly every type of commercial plastic is present in marine debris, the floating components are dominated by polyethylene and polypropylene because of their high production volumes and their buoyancy. Low-density polyethylene is commonly used to make plastic bags or six-pack rings; polypropylene is commonly used to make reusable food containers or beverage bottle caps.
Equator
We have now crossed the equator and are travelling south with the Brazilian current and the south-eastern trade winds. Although the wind has been consistently strong we have still managed to find opportunities to slow the ship and deploy the manta trawl. As usual we followed the same procedure, making sure to measure data such as the salinity, sea surface temperature and weather conditions as well as other conditions such as speed and the geographical position of the ship.
Photo by Jordi Plana
Photo by Jordi Plana
The crew and voyage crew have been monumental in helping with deploying the trawl as well as searching through the samples for microplastic. We have now trawled enough times that we are in a rhythm and very confident whenever it is time to deploy the trawl. Some have even been assigned at usual positions such as the manta trawl halyard and tow-line. Some have even taking a liking to the visual analysing of the sample and have developed a keen-eye at finding and picking out the plastics.
Photo by Jordi Plana
The results have been consistent. In all trawls done, plastic has been found. This continues to emphasise the extent that plastic pollution is such a huge problem facing our planet. Although in a completely different hemisphere, the results have been conclusive so far in suggesting that there isn´t a single part of the ocean that is unaffected by plastic pollution. In the samples we found a variety of different types of plastic particles including, parts of fishing lines, bottle caps, wrappers, microfibers and nurdles just to name a few.
Plastic nurdles is small plastic pellets categorised as primary microplastic less than 5 mm in length, but can vary in size. They are used as raw material in plastic production. During production and transportation these can be spilled into the environment.
They are also called mermaid tears by environmental organisations and due to their size and often clear color, nurdles can look like fish eggs, making them particularly attractive to seabirds, fish and other marine wildlife. Furthermore plankton and other small marine organisms attach to its surface, which means that a lot of marine animals end up eating these plastic pellets.
These pellets contains toxic chemicals that then end up in the animals eating them. The toxins bioaccumulate and extends up through the food chain. The pellet itself built up in the digestive system of the animal and it get a false feeling of feeling full, because plastic pellets are not digestible.
Plastic nurdle with plankton and marine organisms on the surface
Cleaned plastic nurdle
Even with an abundance of plastic pollution, wildlife still seems to be present. A number of dolphins visited our ship. They were a rare type of dolphin called Clymene dolphin and they stayed, playing under the bowsprit for an hour or so. For me this acted as a reminder of the beauty of the ocean and the wildlife within it as well as why it is so important to protect it. These beautiful animals have given me even more motivation in continuing the research and doing what I can to help conserve the wildlife we have left.
Atlantic Ocean
After spending a few days docked in Tenerife we embarked on our journey crossing the Atlantic Ocean. The first week of sailing the wind and sea state were too strong for trawling. So instead of trawling, the Manta Trawl was given a well needed make-over.
A new manta net replaced the old, as a few holes had begun to show. The old net will be repaired and used as a backup. The new net has been well secured to the trawl with lashings of white waxed thread. I used a sail maker seaming palm to lash it securely to the trawl. A rope of natural Manilla has been attached to the wings of the manta trawl to prevent the trawl from damaging the ship side when launched and recovered.
Onboard the ship I have given talks about plastic pollution and the effects to the ocean environment and the voyage crew have showed interest in the topic and have also been very much involved in the research project. They help launch and recover the manta trawl and they help with visually analysing the samples for microplastic particles.
After a week sailing the tropical North Atlantic we arrived in the waters of Cape Verde and the wind and sea were once again calm enough to launch the manta trawl. The results proved hopeful for the environment as we discovered less plastic in the samples collected at the area.
The distribution and accumulation of ocean plastics is strongly influenced by currents and wind patterns. The Cape Verde is placed just at the edge of the North Equatorial Current which is part of the North Atlantic Gyre. An ocean gyre is a system of ocean currents moving in a circular pattern. The gyre’s circular motion attracts particularly small plastic particles transporting them to the centre of the gyre. So the waste from the coast of the lower part of Europe and top part of Africa is transported via the currents and wind patterns to the North Atlantic Gyre where it remains. There are 5 major gyres on Earth. These are the North Atlantic, the South Atlantic, the Indian, the North Pacific, and the South Pacific.
Photo by Jordi Plana
Photo by Jordi Plana
Around Cape Verde Island we also found lots of seaweed in the water, making the task of finding the microplastic particles in the sieves particularly difficult. The voyage crew have now developed a keen eye for picking out microplastics and so it didn’t take long for them to adjust to this issue. A few have become consistent and skilled at picking out even the smallest of particles and although it is like picking out a needle in a haystack the voyage crew still manage.
It was interesting to see the wildlife in the sample amongst the microplastics. Unusual and fascinating creatures became apparent and it made for a fun afternoon of trying to identify and name these different species. Although it is always upsetting seeing such incredible animals in and amongst plastic pollution it is inspiring to see such diversity even so far away from the main coast.
Photo by Jordi Plana. A porcupine fish trapped in the manta net. The fish was still alive and was released back into the ocean.
Soon we will enter the waters and currents at the southern hemisphere where I suspect to find even more plastic particles in my samples. This is because we are getting closer to the South Atlantic Gyre where plastic accumulates.
Manta Trawling
The first couple of weeks conducting the research project have led to many scientific discoveries. The research project consists of two parts. The first part of the project is trawling for microplastics on the sea surface by manta trawl and the second part of the project is automated visual observation for macroplastic by a GoPro camera. The research project is conducted throughout the whole voyage covering both the North and South Atlantic Ocean, during which, samples will be collected periodically.
The first couple of days have been used to prepare and set up the scientific equipment, as well as to get to know the facilities on board. The rigging of the manta trawl was prepared with help from the crew onboard. A boom is used to position the trawl tow line away from the side of the ship and a steady linear course is maintained during trawling. A manta trawl is a net system for sampling the surface of the ocean. It resembles a manta ray, with wings and a broad mouth and the whole trawl is towed on the side of the ship. The manta trawl is useful for collecting samples from the surface of the ocean, such as sampling microplastic.
Photo by Jordi Plana
Photo by Jordi Plana
The first week has served as a trial week to evaluate the protocol and possibly alter methodology, aims or objectives to suit the conditions on site. I have discovered the difficulties in conducting a research on site far away from a fully equipped laboratory with no service or internet and no connection to the outside world. Out here in the open ocean you are controlled by the weather and environment around you – scientific equipment and resources are limited and spare parts are not easy to come by. If something is lost or broken, it has to be repaired on site with help from the ships engineer and with the equipment available.
Photo by Jordi Plana
Photo by Jordi Plana
The first week was ideal for trawling as the sea was calm and the wind was light. The first trawl was deployed in the English Channel, and thereafter we have been collecting samples in the Bay of Biscay. In every sample collected, we have found microplastic particles. This can be seen as a positive results from a scientific point of view but from an environmental point of view it is very sad to continuously discover pollution in the ocean.
The automated visual observation for macroplastic by time-lapse photos is carried out by setting up a GoPro camera on the railing of the ship. The GoPro takes images every 2 seconds and thereby detects every piece of macroplastic floating by on the sea surface.
The GoPro detects marine debris every day floating by the ship. One evening a big styrofoam box floated by very close to the ship and as we had just practice the weekly man over board exercise. We quickly gathered everyone on deck and was ready to rescue the ocean from yet another pollutant. The box was recovered and safely brought to the deck of the ship much to the excitement of the crew and guests.
After leaving the Bay of Biscay and continuing down the coast of Portugal and Morocco the wind has picked up to around 20 knots and sea state up to 6 Beaufort. The swell is 3-5 meters high rolling in from the aft, making the ship heal from side to side, which makes the conditions not in favour of trawling.
Soon we will enter the waters of Tenerife where the wind again will be light and the sea will be calm and we can once again deploy the manta trawl and collect samples for scientific research.
Boarding Bark Europa
I have arrived in Scheveningen, The Netherlands and have boarded the square rigged tall Ship Bark Europa and she is even more magnificent in real life than in photos.
The Bark Europa was built in 1911 on the Stülcken wharf in Hamburg, Germany. She was first named 'Senator Brockes' and in 1986 the ship was brought to the Netherlands. Eight years later, the ship was completely renovated and re-rigged.
Photo from www.barkeuropa.com
Photo from www.barkeuropa.com
At present, the homeport of the ship is Scheveningen, The Hague, The Netherlands. The ship can house 48 trainees and 16 crew members. Bark Europa is an official Sail Training Vessel, therefore due to being a training ship you will be mustered as a trainee and join in the activities on deck. This includes receiving instructions from the crew on how to sail Bark Europa and is an integral part to the experience on board.
Overall, Bark Europa is 56 m long and has a width of 7,4 m, draft of 3,9 and is 33 meter high. The maximum sail area is 1250 m2 and she has 2 x 365 pk caterpillar engines.
The first day onboard I met the crew, who have been working hard to get the ship ready for our upcoming voyage across the Atlantic Ocean towards Antarctica. Today (when writing), the whole crew learned sail handling. This involved setting- and taking away the sails by hauling- and easing lines, climbing the rigging to furl or unfurl the sails.
The Research Project
On board Bark Europa we will be conducting a research on the abundance and distribution of microplastic in the Atlantic Ocean on a crossing from Scheveningen, the Netherlands to Montevideo, Uruguay by collecting data from the sea surface using a manta trawl.
Photo from www.barkeuropa.com
Microplastics have been observed in diverse environments across varied geographical areas and have a devastating effect on the marine environment and marine animals.
Microplastics are defined as plastic objects with a size < 5 mm. A more recent definition describes microplastic as solid-synthetic particles or polymeric matrices, with regular or irregular shape, and dimensions between 1 μm and 5 mm, of primary or secondary manufacture origin, which are water-insoluble. Primary sources can be sewage or plastic particles used in commercial and industrial products and include fibers from textiles, cosmetics, paints etc. Secondary microplastics are present as a result of the wear and tear of larger plastic debris found in the environment. Secondary microplastics dominate the marine environment due to the constant fragmentation of larger plastics.
Microplastics in the marine environment are transported by means of physical processes such as surface drifting, vertical mixing, beaching, and settling. These physical processes are driven by the properties of the ocean and its currents, gyres, and physical oceanographic characteristics such as salinity and temperature. The transport of microplastics is also influenced by the particles themselves, as their size, shape, and physical characteristics affect the way they are transported. While it is known that physical processes facilitate the transport of microplastics, understanding of how microplastics are transported to different parts of the ocean is lacking.
This project aims to investigate the presence and abundance of microplastics on a transect across the Atlantic Ocean, and to use both current and historical oceanographic data to predict how the microplastic may have been transported to that area.
You can read the full research proposal here.
Photo by Jordi Plana
Photo by Jordi Plana
A manta trawl is a net system for sampling the surface of the ocean. It resembles a manta ray, with wings and a broad mouth, and the whole trawl is towed behind the vessel. The manta trawl is useful for collecting samples from the surface of the ocean, such as sampling microplastics.
”Start/Stop Data” and “Sea and Boat Conditions” as well as Sea State, Boat Speed, Boat Direction, Wind Direction, and Wind Speed will be recorded at deployment and recovery of each trawl. Furthermore the saltwater concentration as well as the water temperature is recorded during trawling.
Photo by Jordi Plana
The material collected by the manta trawl is transferred to the sieves. Sieving is a simple technique for separating particles of different sizes. Depending upon the types of particles to be separated, sieves with 3 different mesh sizes are used for this project.
Plastic can be categorised into different categories depending on type and components. In this project we use 7 plastic categories: Fragments (bits of hard plastic), film (like bags), foam (like polystyrene), line (like from fishing gear), industrial pellets (also called nurdles), microbeads (from cosmetics), and microfibers (from synthetic clothing– much thinner and kinkier than threads).
Examining microplastics (< 1mm) requires high resolution microscopy. Using a stereo microscope on board, it is possible to investigate microplastics < 1 mm. However, its effectiveness increases tremendously when combined with infrared spectroscopy and chemical treatment. To be able to clearly identify plastic particles below 1 mm a surfactant that helps separate the microplastics from other particles and organic material, and simple oxidation using are used.
All particles are analysed using ATR-FTIR for polymer identification. Infrared spectroscopy offers reliable identification of polymers. This analysis method is not available on board for this particular project. It will be done in a laboratory after disembarkation.
Bark Europa
On this expedition we will conduct a science project collecting microplastic from the sea surface across the Atlantic ocean, we do this to create awareness about plastic pollution as well as to collect data about the extent and consequences for the ocean and marine life. Since the year 2000, Bark Europa has been crossing oceans and seas on a regular basis and has the reputation of being a ship that really sails. This has brought her to all continents, sailing the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean, thus earning her nickname ‘Ocean Wanderer’. At the end of summer, when the sun starts retreating to the southern hemisphere, Bark Europa will set sails across the Atlantic ocean to Uruguay and eventually reach the Antarctic Peninsula. Read more about the ship and expedition here.
Photo from www.barkeuropa.com
Photo from www.barkeuropa.com
Respect for the oceans plays an important role in the philosophy of Bark Europa and its crew. In addition to sailing training, we will therefore try to increase the awareness of the voyage crew during their travels and to draw more attention to the ocean and environmental issues. We will encourage the voyage crew to take care of the marine environment by educating them with lectures and taking part in the research project. The ship often travels in areas hardly visited by other ships and can therefore contribute to the collection of important data. Bark Europa is often involved in various research projects and are always looking for new ways to contribute to a sustainable future.
Photo from www.barkeuropa.com