Litter at the bottom of the sea: A sea bed survey in the Eastern Mediterranean

During a month-long cruise of the Eastern Mediterranean in the spring of 1993, litter retained in a beam trawl net, employed to sample benthic fauna, was collected. The litter composition, its distribution and abundance were recorded. Though the disposal of all litter except food waste is prohibited in the Mediterranean, this study presents evidence that these regulations are ignored and that vessel-generated refuse is a major source of litter into the marine environment.