About This Project

This project will run a pilot program to understand the seasonality patterns that can influence the accumulation of microplastics, so that we can understand how the economic activities carried out in the region relate to the type of waste generated.Our Blue Hands Project will use a standardized methodology that is low cost and replicable.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Several marine observatories are incorporating marine pollution metrics into their environmental monitoring programs in order to meet stakeholder community needs and using co-design and collaboration to sustain regional data acquisition and surveillance networks. This project is looking for scale up with easy-to-replicate protocols, and science-based technology, high-quality information beyond education and communication. Active for 4 years, the project proving that through the dissemination of a standardized and replicable structure to monitor the accumulation of microplastics on sandy beaches, using a network of engaged citizens as a data collection nucleus, exponentially increases public awareness actions and co-creation of solutions by the community itself.

What is the significance of this project?

The Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem is recognized as the most biodiverse region, as it contains numerous coastal and marine ecosystems, which provide critically important habitats for a diverse set of resident and migratory organisms These Small Island Developing States face geographic remoteness and isolation, and are more vulnerable when it comes to solid waste management. Building on the objectives of the Oceans Decade, including the recent negotiations of the Global Plastics Treaty, this project seeks to disseminate a low-cost and easily accessible methodology for acquiring data on plastic pollution, accelerating diagnosis and thus allowing the application of strategies to prevent and combat marine litter.

What are the goals of the project?

In order to promote inclusion and access to quality education, the project proposes the creation of an open and free course for the entire Caribbean region focused on microplastics and governance, supported by UNESCO.
Through face-to-face training, focal points responsible for data acquisition will be formed on different islands.
Data acquisition should take place over a minimum of 6 months, and in parallel, actions in partnerships with local NGOs should work together with schools and universities to create a wave of awareness events. The project is responsible for creating a specific report with guidelines and indicators to prevent marine litter in that region.