We’re very pleased that another of our environmental research projects has just borne fruit, with the publication of a learned paper in the scientific journal “Marine Pollution Bulletin”.
The paper includes the ARG’s work on marine litter before, during and after its 2023 expedition to Recherchefjord in southern Spitsbergen. The research assessed how well-trained “citizen scientists” could take the rubbish they had cleaned from beaches and then collect a range of data about the rubbish that, amongst other things, could help to identify its source and therefore help enable shutting off that source of pollution.
Recording of pollution details 2023 Recherchefjord camp
Dr. Henry Staley, Jonah Patton, Siri Enckell-Hartas, Joseph Cox
The research work and this published paper are collaborations with several Norwegian institutions including SALT Lofoten, the Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Keep Norway Beautiful and GRID Arendal.
Dr. Stephen Staley, Arctic Research Group Leader commented: "This research and the published report fit well with the ARG's aims as a charity of promoting useful environmental and scientific work in the High Arctic, whilst also providing opportunities for those who might not otherwise have them, to get involved in it". Stephen continued: "We are very grateful to the researchers, the ARG volunteers, the funding organisations and all those who have enabled our charitable work since1988. In sharing this paper we are also continuing to fulfil our aim to disseminate the research results as widely as possible". Stephen concluded: "This work was also supported in part by a grant from the Svalbard Miljovernfond (environmental fund), for which we are most grateful".
The paper can be accessed here and includes within it's conclusions "This study has demonstrated the potential for citizen scientists to contribute in-depth litter registration data relevant to management in the Arctic".
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