Field work reports
Status report 2023Between 21-24 th of August 2023 the reconaissance survey for the project have been completed from the r/v OCEANIa in Isfjorden area. We have checked seven locations, in the outer and inner Isfjorden, collecting photos of the coast (driftwood) and manually collecting macroplastic on the 100 m long units of the shore.
The localities visited:
| place | latitude | longitude | note | photo |
| Wilkinsbukta | 78°12.319’ N | 13°09.054 E | four plastic transects |  |
| Tryghamna | 78°15.537’ N | 13°46.475 E | three plastic transects | |
| Randvika | 78°03.692’ N | 13°37.644 E | six plastic transects | |
| Fredheim | 78°21.315’ N | 16°55.938 E | five plastic transecs | |
| Bjonapynten | 78°23.115’ N | 16°50.900 E | five plastic transecs | |
| Tunabreen | 78°25.735’ N | 17o22.498 E | five plastic transecs | |
| Gipsvika | 78°25.621’ N | 16°35.729 E | eight plastic transecs | |
Status report 2024
Between 15th and 30th August 2024 four groups were collected data for the project in the field.
Fig. 1 Sampling stations maps
Sampling stations and route covered by boat team North West Spitsbergen 18-26th August 2024, RIS 12284 |
Sampling stations covered by team South Spitsbergen 12-17th August 2024 |
Sampling stations covered by team East Spitsbergen 15-30th August 2024 |
Gammarus species distribution: blue G.setosus, yellow G. oceanicus |
Table 1. Data from sampling on NW Spitsbergen coast.
| nr | place name | latitude | longitude | GPS nr | day | hour | coast type | plastic count area | Mytilus - living | Fucus | Littorina | Gamm. oceanicus % | Gamm. setosus % | remarks | photo |
| 1 | Grahuken hytte | 79.47.274 | 14.27.421 | 55 | 2024.08.18 | 07.03 | flat, gravel and stones beach with low skjerra | 100m along dift zone | 0 | 100 | |
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| 2 | Grahuken Tip | 79.48.045 | 14.32.019 | 56 | 2024.08.18 | 10.15 | flat, gravel and stones beach with low skjerra | 100m along dift zone | x | 3 | 97 | |
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| 3 | Grahuken E | 79.47.833 | 14.32.602 | 57 | 2024.08.18 | 10.37. | flat, gravel and stones beach with low skjerra | 100m along dift zone | x | |
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| 4 | Bangehuk | 79.48.455 | 15.37.562 | 59 | 2024.08.18 | 14.23 | steep stony beach with low skjerra | 100m along dift zone | x | |
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| 5 | Velkomspynten E | 79.51.549. | 13.51.778 | 60 | 2024.08.19 | 09.26 | flat, gravel and stones beach with low skjerra | 100m along dift zone | x | 7 | 93 | number of Ascophyllum fronds drifted ashore | |
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| 6 | Velkomspynten Tip | 79.51.682 | 13.51.595 | 61 | 2024.08.19 | 10.10 | flat, gravel and stones beach with low skjerra | 100m along dift zone | x | |
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| 7 | Velkomspynten W | 79.52.632 | 13.43.855 | 62 | 2024.08.19 | flat, gravel and stones beach with low skjerra | 100m along dift zone | x | |
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| 8 | Velkomspynten WW | 79.52.343 | 13.41.918 | 63 | 2024.08.19 | 12.37 | flat, gravel and stones beach with low skjerra | 100m along dift zone | x | |
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| 9 | Biskayarhuken E | 79.55.006 | 12.22.751 | 64 | 2024.08.20 | 14.20 | flat, gravel and stones beach with low skjerra | 100m along dift zone | x | walruses 2 ind. Haul out | |
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| 10 | Biskayarhuken - Lingbukta |
79.50.009 | 12.22.741 | 65 | 2024.08.20 | 14.25 | flat, gravel and stones beach with low skjerra | 100m along dift zone | x | Mytilus on fishing box | |
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| 11 | Raudfjordhytta | 79.44.581 | 12.12.065 | 66 | 2024.08.20 | 15.41 | flat, gravel and stones beach with low skjerra | 100m along dift zone | x | Ivory gull at the hut | |
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| 12 | Flathuken | 79.50.463 | 11.47.449 | 67 | 2024.08.21 | 09.55 | steep stony beach with boulders | 100m along dift zone | x | x | 91 | 9 | |
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| 13 | Hundneset | 79.48.321 | 11.50.844 | 69 | 2024.08.21 | 10.25 | steep stony beach with boulders | 100m along dift zone | x | x | 25 | 75 | |
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| 14 | Raudfjord - Snotinden |
79.45.037 | 11.55.865 | 70 | 2024.08.21 | 12.30 | sandy beach with boulders | 100m along dift zone | x | |
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| 15 | Fuglefjorden skjerra |
79.46.719 | 11.27.458 | 71 | 2024.08.22 | 11.05 | high skjerra, rocky walls | 100m along dift zone | x | x | 19 | 81 | |
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| 16 | Fuglepynten | 79.46.936 | 11.12.874 | 72 | 2024.08.22 | 11.46 | steep stony beach with boulders | 100m along dift zone | x | |
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| 17 | Smeerenbukta | 79.44.711 | 10.57.756 | 73 | 2024.08.22 | 12.45 | sandy beach with boulders | 1 m2 series of photos | |
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| 18 | Smeerenburgodden | 79.44.055 | 10.58.893 | 79 | 2024.08.22 | 13.37 | sandy beach with boulders | 100m along dift zone | |
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| 19 | Bjornhamna | 79.38.449 | 10.58.974 | 80 | 2024.08.22 | 14.37 | steep stony beach | 100m along dift zone | x | |
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| 20 | Gravnesoden | 79.33.637 | 11.02.065 | 81 | 2024.08.23 | 07.17 | flat, gravel and stones beach with low skjerra | 100m along dift zone | x | 26 | 74 | |
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| 21 | Alkekongen beach camp | 79.34.311 | 11.03.934 | 82 | 2024.08.23 | 08.25 | flat, gravel and stones beach with low skjerra | 100m along dift zone | x | 52 | 48 | |
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| 22 | Hamburgbukta S shore | 79.31.575 | 10.41.637 | 83 | 2024.08.24 | 09.18 | flat, gravel and stones beach with low skjerra | 100m along dift zone | x | x | x | 97 | 3 | Phoca vitulina 8-11 ind. | |
| 23 | Hamburgbukta N shore | 79.31.895 | 10.43.222 | 85 | 2024.08.24 | 13.18 | flat, gravel and stones beach with low skjerra | 100m along dift zone | x | polar bear moving S alongshore | |
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| 24 | Magdalenafjorden - Methenbreen |
79.33.558 | 11.13.195 | 86 | 2024.08.25 | 10.25 | steep stony beach with boulders | 100m along dift zone | x | 40 | 60 | |
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| 25 | Magdalenafjorden - Alkebreen |
79.33.875 | 11.09.688 | 87 | 2024.08.25 | 12.23 | steep stony beach with boulders | 100m along dift zone | x | peat sample | |
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| 26 | Magdalenafjorden - Gullybukta |
79.33.462 | 79.33.558 | 88 | 2024.08.25 | 16.12 | sandy beach with boulders | 100m along dift zone | walruses 11-12 ind. Haul out | |
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| 27 | Hamburgbukta open sea shore |
79.31.686 | 10.40.173 | 83A | 2024.08.24 | 11.30 | steep stony beach with boulders, rocky walls | 100m along dift zone | x | peat sample |
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| 46 | Hornbaeckbukta 1 Kaffioyra |
78.40,869 | 11.49,971 | 0 | 100 | ||||||||||
| 47 | Hornbaeckbukta 2 Kaffioyra |
78.40,869 | 11.49,971 | 0 | 100 | ||||||||||
| 48 | Hornbaeckbukta 3 Kaffioyra |
78.40,869 | 11.49,971 | 0 | 100 | ||||||||||
| 49 | Hornbaeckbukta 4 Kaffioyra |
78.40,869 | 11.49,971 | 0 | 100 | ||||||||||
| 50 | Woodfjorden 2 Oceania |
79.6,522' | 14.03,767' | 0 | 100 | ||||||||||
| 51 | Woodfjorden 6 Oceania |
79.6,522' | 14.03,767' | 56 | 44 | ||||||||||
| 52 | Woodfjorden 7 Oceania |
79.6,522' | 14.03,767' | 0 | 100 | ||||||||||
| 53 | Woodfjorden 9 Oceania |
79.6,522' | 14.03,767' | 0 | 100 | ||||||||||
| 54 | Woodfjorden 11 Oceania |
79.6,522' | 14.03,767' | 0 | 100 |
North West Spitsbergen team, operated from yacht r/v OCEANIA and two zodiac boats collected 27 sampling stations (see the map and the table).
Team consisted of: Jan Marcin Węsławski, Lech Kotwicki, Jakub Witek, Marcin Górski and Błażej Kotwicki.
Table 2. Data from sampling on South Spitsbergen coast.
| nr | place name | latitude | longitude | GPS nr | day | hour | coast type | plastic count area | Mytilus - living | Fucus | Littorina | Gamm. oceanicus % | Gamm. setosus % | remarks | photo |
| 28 | Sorkappoya Sorkappvatnet W | 76° 27.995' | 16° 34.241' | 2024.08.12 | flat, stony beach | 10 areas 10 x 15 m, four photos each | x | |
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| 29 | Sorkappoya Sorkappvatnet E | 76° 28.164' | 16° 35.045' | 2024.08.12 | flat, gravel, stony beach with skjerra | 10 areas 10 x 15 m, four photos each 4 | x | |
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| 30 | Sorkappoya | 76° 27.866' | 16° 34.613' | 2024.08.12 | flat, stony beach | none | x | 90 | 10 | |
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| 31 | Palffyodden | 76° 53.906' | 15° 31.162' | 2024.08.15 | skjerra with stony beach | none | x | 100 | 0 | |
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| 32 | Hyttevika | 77° 02.910' | 15° 08.317' | 2024.08.17 | flat stony beach with skjerra | none | x | 95 | 5 | |
South Spitsbergen team operated with the support of yacht Ocean B, and one zodiac team consisted of Ryszard Siwecki, Adam Siwecki and Paweł Paździor.
Table 3. Data from sampling on East Spitsbergen coast.
| nr | place name | latitude | longitude | GPS nr | day | hour | coast type | plastic count area | Mytilus - living | Fucus | Littorina | Gamm. oceanicus % | Gamm. setosus % | remarks | photo |
| 33 | Hambergbukta (Spits. East) | N 77°02’19’’ | E 17°04’38’’ | 2024.08.20 | low moraine beach, sand, gravel, stones | 3(100 x 20m) | freshwater outfloiw | |
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| 34 | Russebukta (Edgeøya) | N 77°35’16’’ | E 21°00’05’’ | 2024.08.21 | low gravel beach, rocks | 100 x 30m | x | 0 | 100 | skjerra | |
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| 35 | Diskobukta (Edgeøya) | N 77°49’24’’ | E 21°21’44’’ | 2024.08.22 | low, gravel and stony beach | 2(100 x 10m) | no driftwood | |
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| 36 | Kapp Waldburg (Barentsøya) | N 78°15’31’’ | E 21°56’13’’ | 2024.08.23 | low gravel beach | 100 x 10m | strong currents | |
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| 37 | Kapp Waldburg (Barentsøya) | N 78°15’44’’ | E 22°03’49’’ | 2024.08.23 | narrow, low, initial stony beach | 0 | 100 | no driftwood, strong currents | |
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| 38 | Sundbukta (Barentsøya) | N 78°13’08’’ | E 20°59’31’’ | 2024.08.24 | low, gravel and stony beach | 3(10 x 100m) | 0 | 100 | |
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| 39 | Anderssonbukta (Barentsøya) | N 78°18’50’’ | E 20°37’27’’ | 2024.08.25 | low, gravel and stony beach | 100 x 5m | x | narrow driftline | |
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| 40 | Edlundhamna (Spits. East) | N 78°37’17’’ | E 20°00’39’’ | 2024.08.26 | low, boulder, sand and stony beach | 100 x 10m | 0 | 100 | |
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| 41 | Kapp Weyprecht (Spits. East) | N 78°53’39’’ | E 20°53’20’’ | 2024.08.27 | low, boulder, sand and stony beach | 100 x 20m | 0 | 100 | |
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| 42 | Straumslandet (Spits. East) | N 78°41’02’’ | E 21°06’47’’ | 2024.08.28 | long narrow bay, low driftwood | ||||||||||
| 43 | Von Otterøya (Hinlopen Straits) | N 79°15'04" | E 19°59'42" | 2024.08.26 | stony beach | 2 (100 x 20m) | 0 | 100 | |
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| 44 | Murchisonfjorden (Nordaustlandet) | N 79°55'29" | E 18°10'23" | 2024.08.27 | narrow, sand and gravel beach | no driftwood | |
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| 45 | Verlegenhuken (Spits. North) | N 80°02'57" | E 16°11'18" | 2024.08.28 | low, sand and gravel beach | 2(100 x 30m) | 6 | 94 | lots of driftwood | |
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| 55 | Agardhbukta (East Spitsbergen) | N 78°02.9464' | E 18°40.0943' | 2024-08-13 | short, steep, boulder, gravel and stony beach | 3(10m × 10m) | none observed | none observed | none observed | none observed | none observed | little driftwood and plastic on the upper terrace. No driftwood at the beach | |
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| 56 | Sundbukta (Barentsøya) | N 78°13.1187' | E 20°59.5450' | 2024-08-20 | wide, flat beach, gravel and small stones. | 3(10m × 10m) | none observed | none observed | none observed | none observed | none observed | lots of driftwood in the cosastal zone, almost none plastic (noted one remains of fishing net) | |
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| 57 | Buchholzbukta (East Spitsbergen) | N 78°42.097' | E 21°19.657' | 2024-08-14 | short steep beach, boulder, stones | x | large deposit of driftwood near the remnants of the old trappers cabin bear presence, impossible to land on shore. | ||||||||
| 57 | Buchholzbukta (East Spitsbergen) | N 78°42.620' | E 21°19.180' | 2024-08-15 | flat and wide sand beach. River estuary | x | impossible to spot the plastic, some driftwood visible through binoculars walrus colony + bear presence. Impossible to land on shore. | |
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| 58 | Arnesenodden (Svenskoya) | N 78°49.8149 | E 26°29.3675 | 2024-08-18 | short gravel beach with pebbles, + flat plain of 1-1.5m elevation | illustrative pics, not done in a systematic way | large deposits of kelp/other marine plants - no plastic or driftwood on the shore. Considerable amounts of driftwood on the flat river plain above the beach - lot of buoys, ocassionally some fishnet parts - | |
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| 58 | between Arnesenodden → Kapp Petersen (Svenskoya) | 2024-08-18 | gravel beach → cliffs → flat gravel beach | large amounts of driftwood in the coastal zone on the way from Arnesenodden to the trappers' hut at Kapp Pettersen, lot of buoys + large plastic objects: fishnets, fragments of plastic fish crates | |
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| 58 | Kapp Pettersen (Svenskoya) | 78°49.422'N | 26°37.786'E | 2024-08-18 | short steep gravel beach with pebbles in the vicinity of the old hytta | 3(10m × 10m) | none observed | none observed | none observed | none observed | none observed | large waves, steep beach - no driftwood at the shore, but considerable deposits on the terrace above the beach | |
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| 59 | Kapp Walter (Svenskoya) | N 78°43.9644 | E 26°26.3922 | 2024-08-18 | gravel boulder beach | x | considerable amouts of driftwood also on the upper terraces | |
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| 60 | ~Kapp Weissenfels (Svenskoya) | N 78°42'54" | E 27°00'53" | 2024-08-18 | short steep gravel beach | 3(10m × 10m) | lot of bird feathers and rather small plastic objects | |
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| 60 | ~Kapp Weissenfels (Svenskoya) | 78°43.052'N | 27°01.090'E | 2024-08-18 | flat wide gravel beach | x | a lot of deposited driftwood observed from distance, not possible to spot plastic objects, low visibility, fog comign in illustrative | |
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| 60 | remnants of the old trapper's hut | 78°41.594'N | 26°58.694'E | 2024-08-18 | hut located on the sandy cliff, below: wide sandy + gravel beach | large waves + large deposits of driftwood and large plastic objects: fishnets, buoys | |
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| 61 | Russebukta (Edgeøya) | N 77°35.469' | E 21°03.212' | 2024-08-22 | wide (around 100-something metres) sandy beach with a lake/lagoon. | 3(10m × 10m) | none observed | none observed | Lots of driftwood, negligible amounts of plastic (individual small objects - two observed - type piece of fishing net line <10 cm, unidentified piece of plastic <10 cm2) | |
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| 61 | Russebukta (Edgeøya) | 77°35.261'N | 21°00.052'E | 2024-08-22 | flat sandy beach | 3(10m × 10m) | none observed | none observed | considerable amount of driftwood, negligible amount of plastic objects | |
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| 61 | Russebukta (Edgeøya) | 77°35.115'N | 20°56.622'E | 2024-08-22 | flat sandy beach | 3(10m × 10m) | none observed | none observed | considerable amount of driftwood, single plastic objects: part of fishnet, rope parts, etc. | |
East Spitsbergen team operated with the support of yacht Ocean A, and collection was performed by Maciej Chełchowski between 15-30th August 2024. Collection with support of yacht Ocean B was performed by Agnieszka Kalinowska.
