Assessment of spatiotemporal distribution of benthic marine litter for the southern Black Sea coasts of Türkiye

This study investigates the prevalence and characteristics of benthic marine litter along the southeastern Black Sea coast. A two-year seasonal trawling survey (2017-2018) was conducted between & Ccedil;ayagzi Cape and & Uuml;nyeTas,kana Cape across three depth ranges to evaluate litter density and composition in accordance with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The results indicate an average litter density of 48,744.69 +/- 7543.02 items/km2 and 151.35 +/- 14.04 kg/km2, with plastic accounting for over 50 % of the total debris. Statistical analyses of seasonal and depth variations revealed no significant differences in overall litter density; however, plastic items such as bags (36.4 %) and bottles (18.97 %) predominated consistently. The findings highlight the significant contribution of Turkey's coastline to regional marine litter, driven by intensive urban and industrial activities, further compounded by riverine inputs from major rivers discharging into the Black Sea. The study underscores the urgency of enhanced international collaboration and the development of comprehensive regional strategies to combat marine pollution. Insights into the distribution and density of benthic marine litter are critical for informing effective policy measures and raising public awareness to address the pervasive issue of marine litter in the Black Sea basin.