photo Sea-Water Amplification (SWA) Piscinas naturais da Criação Velha, Madalena, Ilha do Pico, Azores 19. 2. 2024

Around 5-6 million lobster traps with plastic identification tags are released each year and have to be replaced each season. Data indicated from the models cite the Labrador Current and the Gulf Stream as the key forces transporting these fragments.

photo Sea-Water Amplification (SWA) Piscinas naturais da Criação Velha, Madalena, Ilha do Pico, Azores 19. 2. 2024

Over the last few years, a significant number of plastic fragments (marks, doors, etc.) from lobster fishing from the US and Canada have been found on various beaches in the Macaronesia region, particularly in the Azores and the Canary Islands. These fragments offer a perfect case study for a better understanding of the ocean dynamic link between the north-east coast of the North American continent and the Macaronesia region.

photo Sea-Water Amplification (SWA) Piscinas naturais da Criação Velha, Madalena, Ilha do Pico, Azores 19. 2. 2024

Plastic waste originating from the US and Canada fishing regions is dispersed over a large area in the North Atlantic, with only a small percentage reaching Macaronesia. This suggests that a higher number of these marks could still be floating in the real ocean or reaching other locations along the North Atlantic coast.

photo Sea-Water Amplification (SWA) Piscinas naturais da Criação Velha, Madalena, Ilha do Pico, Azores 19. 2. 2024

The Azores are more susceptible than the Canary Islands to the arrival of plastic lobster cages that are accidentally released in the fishing regions of the US and Canada. These fragments travel across the Atlantic Ocean reaching the Azores in less than a year.

photo Sea-Water Amplification (SWA) Piscinas naturais da Criação Velha, Madalena, Ilha do Pico, Azores 19. 2. 2024

The growing presence of plastics in marine ecosystems highlights the urgent need to improve waste management practices in today’s society. However, these new challenges also offer an opportunity to discover and develop innovative tools to expand our knowledge in oceanography and tackle marine pollution. Plastic fragments, due to their durability and durability, serve as a unique tracer, providing valuable insights into the physical dynamics and transport routes in the ocean.

photo Sea-Water Amplification (SWA) Piscinas naturais da Criação Velha, Madalena, Calhau, Ilha do Pico, Azores 19. 2. and 24. 2. 2024

🔎 If you find any of these fragments on your coastline, contact Okeanos – Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar via email christopher.k.pham@uac.pt or via  social networks.

🔎 These fragments have been found at two locations (Piscinas naturais da Criação Velha, Madalena, Calhau) on the Pico Island (Ilha do Pico) in the Azores archipelago.

Interesting links:

The information contained in the text I drew mostly from the Lagrangian tracking of long-lasting plastic tags: From lobster fisheries in the USA and Canada to Macaronesia study