Marine Plastics EOV and common sampling protocol

This deliverable describes the process of establishing global coordination for sustained observations of marine plastics litter as a new type of Essential Ocean Variable (EOV) addressing the aspect of observing human impacts on the ocean. The document reports on the EuroSea efforts to implement a community vision for an Integrated Marine Debris Observing System (IMDOS) as a new element of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). First version of the Marine Plastics Litter EOV Specification Sheet is included. Progress towards establishing common sampling protocols for marine plastic litter in Europe and beyond are described.