Microplastics in surface water samples from Placentia Bay, Newfoundland (2018-2019)

This data was collected between 2018 and 2019 at 7 sites around Placentia Bay. Two of these sites were subject to repeat sampling. Surface water samples were collected in collaboration with local fish harvesters, who aided the team in towing a surface trawl (the Low-Tech Aquatic Debris Instrument, or LADI, a DIY citizen-science technology developed by the Civic Laboratory for Environmental Action Research) equipped with a plankton net for the filtering of surface waters for microplastics.

Microplastic samples were analysed visually under a stereomicroscope for the identification and characterization of microplastics down to a lower size limit of 1mm.

This project is part of Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Coastal Environmental Baseline Program.