Atlantic Canada Marine Plastic Research Project (2017-2020)

The purpose of the Atlantic Canada Microplastic Research Project (2017-2020) is to determine the quantity of microplastics in 3 near-shore communities of Atlantic Canada. Data will be used to better inform the conversation and solutions around plastic pollution in the region. The project is funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada and is in partnership with Clean Annapolis River Project (CARP), ACAP Humber Arm, and Dr. Max Liboiron at the Civic Laboratory for Environmental Action Research (CLEAR) out of Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN). Dr. Max Liboiron is our chief academic advisor on the 3-year project, assisting with project development, methods and protocol, and sampling design. The project included sampling both surface water and beach sediment at all three study locations. The surface water trawling equipment was built using CLEAR''s low-aquatic debris instrument (LADI) design. Data reports are available for 2018 surface water and shoreline sediment results. Remaining 2018 sediment results and 2019 hot-spot data will be available soon.