Wetlands dramatically reduce micro plastic
CCB • April 5, 2017
A new CCB study concludes that both waste water after treatments plants and storm water contains micro plastic particles. Testing the same water after it has passed through a constructed wetland show that considerable amounts are trapped in the wetland, regardless if the initial amounts were high or low. The results are encouraging since all efforts to reduce increasing outflow of micro plastic to river and sea are welcome, and in the case of using wetlands it is a win-win-win situation since we already know that wetlands also work for capturing nutrients and pharmaceuticals.
On Wednesday, 28 May, the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) published its scientific advice for fish stocks in the Baltic Sea . In response, environmental NGOs from around the Baltic Sea region urge the European Commission to propose, and fisheries ministers to adopt, fishing opportunities at levels well below the headline advice to safeguard ecosystem needs and dynamics and allow for rapid recovery of Baltic Sea fish populations.
Key Baltic fish populations are in crisis, warn environmental NGOs. New scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES, confirms the poor condition of key Baltic fish populations, several of which remain collapsed (1). EU fisheries ministers must set 2026-catch limits well below ICES advice and prioritise long-term recovery over short-term economic gains.