Beach litter sources around Nuuk, Greenland: An analysis by UArctic summer school graduate course students

Academic article

Year of publication: 2023
Journal: Marine Pollution Bulletin
External websites: Cristin; Arkiv; Doi
Involved from NIVA: Jannike Falk-Andersson
Contributors: Marthe Larsen Haarr, Lis Bach, Catherine P. Chambers, Jannike Falk-Andersson, Thomas Juul-Pedersen, Ryan d'Arcy Metcalfe, Anna Katariina Sinisalo, Jakob Strand, Helene Svendsen, Julia E. Baak, Helga Hvanndal Björnsdóttir, Elsa Margaret Krook Brenner, Sigrid Christiansen, Cécilia Delattre, Maeva Gauthier, Rachel Helen Georgiou, Ljuba Günther, Fanny Hägg, Ulunnguaq Markussen, Karla Berenice Parga Martínez, Arnaud le Pevedic, Alice Refosco, Bror Kristian Raanaas Tandberg, Felix Tulatz, Silke Van Broeck, Nathan Thomas Visser, Louise Wittwer

Summary

Modeling studies illustrate the potential for long-range transport of plastics into the Arctic, although the degree to which this occurs remains relatively undocumented. We utilised a teaching exercise at a UArctic summer school graduate course in Nuuk, Greenland to conduct a preliminary in-depth analysis of beach litter sources in the Nuup Kangerlua fjord. Students and instructors collected and analysed 1800 litter items weighing 200 kg from one location in the fjord and another at its mouth. The results suggest a predominance of local sources to macrolitter, rather than long-range transport from Europe. Fisheries-related items and rope were common. Packaging which could be identified was largely suspected to be products distributed in Greenland, and soft plastics, which rarely disperse far from its source, were also common. The results suggest local measures to reduce mismanaged waste and emissions from fisheries are important for reducing marine litter in West Greenland.