Data

Microdebris contamination in Australian coastal and marine waters

Name: Microdebris contamination in Australian coastal and marine waters
Published: 2026

Integrated Marine Observing System

Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)

Viewed: [[ro.stat.viewed]] Cited: [[ro.stat.cited]] Accessed: [[ro.stat.accessed]]

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This dataset, together with other variables already measured across the NMN (e.g., surface salinity, current, plankton, fish larvae), has the potential to provide insight into abundance, spatial distribution and fluctuations in anthropogenic marine debris, as well as identify potential source materials, geographic (i.e., land-based) inputs and fate. Information on such contamination is critical to inform policy and management on marine pollution in Australia’s marine estate and to assess the effectiveness of policy responses.Maintenance and Update Frequency: quarterlyStatement: Field data is generated by IMOS partners conducting microplastics tows across the NMN and includes specific details on location, time and date of collection. The dataset starts in Jan 2016, with monthly sampling tows at the Yongala (YON) NRS site (Miller et al., 2022). In Jan 2021 sampling was expanded to multiple locations across the NMN in a two-year pilot program funded by IMOS New Technology Proving. Sampling sites include Port Hacking (PHB), Rottnest (ROT), and Darwin (DAR) NRS sites, as well as Bonney Coast (VBM100), Gulf Saint Vincent (SAMSGV) and Spencer Gulf (SAM8SG) mooring stations. In Sep 2023 the program was extended (funded until Jun 2027) and expanded to include three new sites: North Stradbroke Island (NRSNSI), Maria Island (NRSMAI) and Kangaroo Island (NRSKAI), becoming a sub-facility within IMOS. Due to accessibility issues, sampling was discontinued at SAM8SG in late 2023; instead Upper Spencer Gulf (SAMUSG) was added to the monitoring schedule (first collection July 2025). Where feasible, the sampling frequency was increased to monthly (see Annual Microplastics Report Cards – released July 2025 - for detailed information on number of samples collected per site per year). Duplicate tows (approx. 10 min duration) are taken at each site and for each sampling period (monthly or quarterly, dependent on-site accessibility). In January 2025, the sampling workflow was modified, introducing a flowmeter to improve estimates of the volume of water collected per sample. Prior to January 2025, volume estimates were calculated by data users based on the distance towed during sampling, following the method described by Kroon et al. (2018a). Samples are preserved in diluted ethanol (20%, prior to Jun 2020 in 4% formalin) and transported to AIMS for processing. Sample processing and data acquisition are conducted at the AIMS laboratory, Townsville, applying published standardised protocols developed in-house specifically for assessing microplastics contamination in marine waters (Jensen et al. 2019; Kroon et al. 2018a, b; Miller et al. 2017, Miller et al 2020, Miller et al. 2022, Santana et al. 2022, Schlawinsky et al. 2022, Wootton et al. 2024). The workflow is governed by detailed management practices around QA/QC, calibration and provenance. QA/QC failure due to, for example, incomplete field metadata (i.e., missing GPS points required to estimate volume of water sampled) results in the exclusion of affected data from final dataset. To ensure robustness of the workflow, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and associated Task Risk Assessments (TRAs) for collecting, processing and analysing marine environmental samples for microplastic contamination are available upon request. A data dictionary is available for consultation and download, and provides definitions of terminology and categories reported to assist in the interpretation of the dataset. This data is suitable for quantifying marine debris contamination, including microplastics, in Australian coastal and marine waters. Inclusion of such data in numerical simulations will improve understanding of potential sources, transport and fate of microplastics across marine and coastal waters, as well as environmental factors influencing microplastics presence and distribution across the sampling locations (e.g., see Jensen et al. 2019, Miller et al., 2022, Santana et al., 2025). Anthropogenic marine debris estimates can also be used to provide realistic exposure scenarios for effect studies in the field (e.g., susceptibility of larval fish to microplastic contamination at IMOS sampling locations) and the laboratory (e.g., effects on growth and survival of exposed marine organisms) for ecological risk assessments. Yearly snapshots of the data across the program and per sampling site, along with highlights of the monitoring, is publicly available via the Annual Report Cards. References: Jensen, L.H., Motti, C.A., Garm, A.L., Tonin, H., Kroon, F.J., 2019. Sources, distribution and fate of microfibres on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Scientific Reports 9, 9021. Kroon, F., Motti, C., Talbot, S., Sobral, P., Puotinen, M., 2018. A workflow for improving estimates of microplastic contamination in marine waters: A case study from North-Western Australia. Environmental Pollution 238, 26-38. Kroon, F.J., Motti, C.A., Jensen, L.H., Berry, K.L.E., 2018. Classification of marine microdebris: A review and case study on fish from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Scientific Reports 8, 16422. Miller, M.E., Kroon, F.J., Motti, C.A., 2017. Recovering microplastics from marine samples: A review of current practices. Marine Pollution Bulletin 123, 6-18. Miller, M., Menéndez, P., Motti, C., Kroon, F., 2020. Efficacy of microplastic separation techniques on seawater samples: Testing accuracy using high-density polyethylene. Biological Bulletin 240, 52–66. Miller, M.E., Carsique, M., Santana, M.F.S., Brinkman, R., Motti, C.A., Hamann, M., Kroon, F.J., 2022. Influence of temporal and physicochemical properties on plastic contamination at the Yongala shipwreck, Australia. Environmental Pollution 307, 119545. Santana, M.F.M, Kroon, F.J., van Herwerden, L., Vamvounis, G., Motti, C.A., 2022. An assessment workflow to recover microplastics from complex biological matrices. Marine Pollution Bulletin 179, 113676. Schlawinsky, M., Santana, M.F.M., Motti, C.A., Martins, A.B., Thomas-Hall, P., Miller, M., Lefèvre, C., Kroon, F.J., 2022. Customized vacuum filtration apparatus refines microplastic processing: a case study of the Australian sharpnose shark. 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While AIMS has made every reasonable effort to ensure high quality of the data, products and services, to the extent permitted by law the data, products and services are provided without any warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of title, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement. AIMS make no representation or warranty that the data, products and services are accurate, complete, reliable or current. To the extent permitted by law, AIMS exclude all liability to any person arising directly or indirectly from the use of the data, products and services.&rft_rights=Attribution: Format for citation of metadata sourced from Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in a list of reference is as follows: Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). (2021). Microdebris contamination in Australian coastal and marine waters. https://doi.org/10.25845/xa98-3449, accessed[date-of-access].&rft_subject=oceans&rft_subject=Marine Microplastics Sub-Facility, Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS)&rft_subject=Concentration of suspended particulate material per unit volume of the water body&rft.type=dataset&rft.language=English Access the data

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Use Limitation: All AIMS data, products and services are provided "as is" and AIMS does not warrant their fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement. While AIMS has made every reasonable effort to ensure high quality of the data, products and services, to the extent permitted by law the data, products and services are provided without any warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of title, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement. AIMS make no representation or warranty that the data, products and services are accurate, complete, reliable or current. To the extent permitted by law, AIMS exclude all liability to any person arising directly or indirectly from the use of the data, products and services.

Attribution: Format for citation of metadata sourced from Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in a list of reference is as follows: "Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). (2021). Microdebris contamination in Australian coastal and marine waters. https://doi.org/10.25845/xa98-3449, accessed[date-of-access]".

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The data provides information relevant to determining time series estimates of anthropogenic marine debris contamination across the IMOS National Mooring Network (NMN) including National Reference Stations (NRS), with a focus on microplastics (plastics < 5 mm). Specifically, it summarises the physical (i.e., size, shape and colour) properties and chemical nature (i.e., synthetic, semi-synthetic or naturally derived, and polymer type) along with the associated sampling coordinates and field collection data. This dataset, together with other variables already measured across the NMN (e.g., surface salinity, current, plankton, fish larvae), has the potential to provide insight into abundance, spatial distribution and fluctuations in anthropogenic marine debris, as well as identify potential source materials, geographic (i.e., land-based) inputs and fate. Information on such contamination is critical to inform policy and management on marine pollution in Australia’s marine estate and to assess the effectiveness of policy responses.

Lineage

Maintenance and Update Frequency: quarterly

Statement: Field data is generated by IMOS partners conducting microplastics tows across the NMN and includes specific details on location, time and date of collection. The dataset starts in Jan 2016, with monthly sampling tows at the Yongala (YON) NRS site (Miller et al., 2022). In Jan 2021 sampling was expanded to multiple locations across the NMN in a two-year pilot program funded by IMOS New Technology Proving. Sampling sites include Port Hacking (PHB), Rottnest (ROT), and Darwin (DAR) NRS sites, as well as Bonney Coast (VBM100), Gulf Saint Vincent (SAMSGV) and Spencer Gulf (SAM8SG) mooring stations. In Sep 2023 the program was extended (funded until Jun 2027) and expanded to include three new sites: North Stradbroke Island (NRSNSI), Maria Island (NRSMAI) and Kangaroo Island (NRSKAI), becoming a sub-facility within IMOS. Due to accessibility issues, sampling was discontinued at SAM8SG in late 2023; instead Upper Spencer Gulf (SAMUSG) was added to the monitoring schedule (first collection July 2025). Where feasible, the sampling frequency was increased to monthly (see Annual Microplastics Report Cards – released July 2025 - for detailed information on number of samples collected per site per year). Duplicate tows (approx. 10 min duration) are taken at each site and for each sampling period (monthly or quarterly, dependent on-site accessibility). In January 2025, the sampling workflow was modified, introducing a flowmeter to improve estimates of the volume of water collected per sample. Prior to January 2025, volume estimates were calculated by data users based on the distance towed during sampling, following the method described by Kroon et al. (2018a). Samples are preserved in diluted ethanol (20%, prior to Jun 2020 in 4% formalin) and transported to AIMS for processing. Sample processing and data acquisition are conducted at the AIMS laboratory, Townsville, applying published standardised protocols developed in-house specifically for assessing microplastics contamination in marine waters (Jensen et al. 2019; Kroon et al. 2018a, b; Miller et al. 2017, Miller et al 2020, Miller et al. 2022, Santana et al. 2022, Schlawinsky et al. 2022, Wootton et al. 2024). The workflow is governed by detailed management practices around QA/QC, calibration and provenance. QA/QC failure due to, for example, incomplete field metadata (i.e., missing GPS points required to estimate volume of water sampled) results in the exclusion of affected data from final dataset. To ensure robustness of the workflow, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and associated Task Risk Assessments (TRAs) for collecting, processing and analysing marine environmental samples for microplastic contamination are available upon request. A data dictionary is available for consultation and download, and provides definitions of terminology and categories reported to assist in the interpretation of the dataset. This data is suitable for quantifying marine debris contamination, including microplastics, in Australian coastal and marine waters. Inclusion of such data in numerical simulations will improve understanding of potential sources, transport and fate of microplastics across marine and coastal waters, as well as environmental factors influencing microplastics presence and distribution across the sampling locations (e.g., see Jensen et al. 2019, Miller et al., 2022, Santana et al., 2025). Anthropogenic marine debris estimates can also be used to provide realistic exposure scenarios for effect studies in the field (e.g., susceptibility of larval fish to microplastic contamination at IMOS sampling locations) and the laboratory (e.g., effects on growth and survival of exposed marine organisms) for ecological risk assessments. Yearly snapshots of the data across the program and per sampling site, along with highlights of the monitoring, is publicly available via the Annual Report Cards. References: Jensen, L.H., Motti, C.A., Garm, A.L., Tonin, H., Kroon, F.J., 2019. Sources, distribution and fate of microfibres on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Scientific Reports 9, 9021. Kroon, F., Motti, C., Talbot, S., Sobral, P., Puotinen, M., 2018. A workflow for improving estimates of microplastic contamination in marine waters: A case study from North-Western Australia. Environmental Pollution 238, 26-38. Kroon, F.J., Motti, C.A., Jensen, L.H., Berry, K.L.E., 2018. Classification of marine microdebris: A review and case study on fish from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Scientific Reports 8, 16422. Miller, M.E., Kroon, F.J., Motti, C.A., 2017. Recovering microplastics from marine samples: A review of current practices. Marine Pollution Bulletin 123, 6-18. Miller, M., Menéndez, P., Motti, C., Kroon, F., 2020. Efficacy of microplastic separation techniques on seawater samples: Testing accuracy using high-density polyethylene. Biological Bulletin 240, 52–66. Miller, M.E., Carsique, M., Santana, M.F.S., Brinkman, R., Motti, C.A., Hamann, M., Kroon, F.J., 2022. Influence of temporal and physicochemical properties on plastic contamination at the Yongala shipwreck, Australia. Environmental Pollution 307, 119545. Santana, M.F.M, Kroon, F.J., van Herwerden, L., Vamvounis, G., Motti, C.A., 2022. An assessment workflow to recover microplastics from complex biological matrices. Marine Pollution Bulletin 179, 113676. Schlawinsky, M., Santana, M.F.M., Motti, C.A., Martins, A.B., Thomas-Hall, P., Miller, M., Lefèvre, C., Kroon, F.J., 2022. Customized vacuum filtration apparatus refines microplastic processing: a case study of the Australian sharpnose shark. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods 20, 553-567.

Notes

Credit
Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)

Credit
Australia’s Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) is enabled by the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). It is operated by a consortium of institutions as an unincorporated joint venture, with the University of Tasmania as Lead Agent.

Modified: 02 09 2026

This dataset is part of a larger collection

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Subjects

Concentration of suspended particulate material per unit volume of the water body | Marine Microplastics Sub-Facility, Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) | oceans |

User Contributed Tags

Other Information

Data Report 2023: Motti C & Santana M (2025). National Marine Microplastics 2023. Integrated Marine Observing System, Hobart.

url : https://api.aims.gov.au/data-v2.0/fd3d74b0-0234-4864-bbc6-751c44e41f5e/files/Microplastics-Report-Card-2023_final.pdf External Link

Kroon, F. J., Motti, C. E., Jensen, L. H., & Berry, K. L. E. (2018). Classification of marine microdebris: A review and case study on fish from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Scientific Reports, 8(1), 16422. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-34590-6

doi : https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-34590-6 DOI Link

Kroon, F., Motti, C., Talbot, S., Sobral, P., & Puotinen, M. (2018). A workflow for improving estimates of microplastic contamination in marine waters: A case study from North-Western Australia. Environmental Pollution, 238, 26–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.03.010

doi : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.03.010 DOI Link

Standard Operating Procedure - Density Flotation

url : https://api.aims.gov.au/data-v2.0/fd3d74b0-0234-4864-bbc6-751c44e41f5e/files/SOP SF_T077_4_Microplastics_Density Flotation_Surface_Tows.pdf External Link

Data Report 2022: Motti C & Santana M (2025). National Marine Microplastics 2022. Integrated Marine Observing System, Hobart.

url : https://api.aims.gov.au/data-v2.0/fd3d74b0-0234-4864-bbc6-751c44e41f5e/files/Microplastics-Report-Card-2022_final.pdf External Link

Santana, M.F.M., Tonin, H., Vamvounis, G. et al. Predicting microplastic dynamics in coral reefs: presence, distribution, and bioavailability through field data and numerical simulation analysis. Environ Sci Pollut Res 32, 9655–9675 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-025-36234-5

doi : https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-025-36234-5 DOI Link

Miller, M. E., Kroon, F. J., & Motti, C. A. (2017). Recovering microplastics from marine samples: A review of current practices. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 123(1), 6–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.08.058

doi : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.08.058 DOI Link

Data Report 2021: Motti C & Santana M (2025). National Marine Microplastics 2021. Integrated Marine Observing System, Hobart.

url : https://api.aims.gov.au/data-v2.0/fd3d74b0-0234-4864-bbc6-751c44e41f5e/files/Microplastics-Report-Card-2021_final.pdf External Link

Data Report 2024: Motti C & Santana M (2025). National Marine Microplastics 2024. Integrated Marine Observing System, Hobart.

url : https://api.aims.gov.au/data-v2.0/fd3d74b0-0234-4864-bbc6-751c44e41f5e/files/Microplastics-Report-Card-2024_final.pdf External Link

Wootton N, Reis-Santos P, Adyel T, Blewitt M, Clarke B, Crutchett T, Hamann M, Hardesty D, Lavers J, Leterme S, Leusch F, Lynch S, Motti C, O’Brien A, Okoffo E, Perera K, Puskic P, Razzell Holls J, Roman L, Santana MFM, Snigirova A, Tuuri EM, Wilson S, Ziajahromi S, Gillanders BM. 2024. Marine sampling field manual for microplastics. In Field Manuals to Monitor Australian Waters, Version 3. Przeslawski R, Foster S (Eds). National Environmental Science Program

url : https://api.aims.gov.au/data-v2.0/fd3d74b0-0234-4864-bbc6-751c44e41f5e/files/Wootton etal 2024.pdf External Link

Miller, M.E., Carsique, M., Santana, M.F.S., Brinkman, R., Motti, C.A., Hamann, M., Kroon, F.J., 2022. Influence of temporal and physicochemical properties on plastic contamination at the Yongala shipwreck, Australia. Environmental Pollution 307, 119545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119545

doi : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119545 DOI Link

Santana MFM, Kroon FJ, van Herwerden L, Vamvounis G, Motti CA: An assessment workflow to recover microplastics from complex biological matrices. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2022, 179:113676.

url : https://api.aims.gov.au/data-v2.0/fd3d74b0-0234-4864-bbc6-751c44e41f5e/files/Santana2022_digestion workflow.pdf External Link

Jensen, L. H., Motti, C. A., Garm, A. L., Tonin, H., & Kroon, F. J. (2019). Sources, distribution and fate of microfibres on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 9021. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-45340-7

doi : https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-45340-7 DOI Link

Schlawinsky, M., Santana, M.F.M., Motti, C.A., Barbosa Martins, A., Thomas-Hall, P., Miller, M.E., Lefèvre, C., Kroon, F.J. (2022) Improved microplastic processing from complex biological samples using a customized vacuum filtration apparatus. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods, 1-15.https://doi.org/10.1002/lom3.10504

doi : https://doi.org/10.1002/lom3.10504 DOI Link

Access this data via the AODN Portal

url : https://portal.aodn.org.au/search?uuid=fd3d74b0-0234-4864-bbc6-751c44e41f5e External Link

AODN-IMOS Microdebris Stations (aims:AODN-IMOS_Microdebris_Stations)

url : https://geoserver.apps.aims.gov.au/aims/wms External Link

Miller, M. E., Motti, C. A., Menendez, P., & Kroon, F. J. (2021). Efficacy of Microplastic Separation Techniques on Seawater Samples: Testing Accuracy Using High-Density Polyethylene. The Biological Bulletin, 240(1), 52–66. https://doi.org/10.1086/710755

doi : https://doi.org/10.1086/710755 DOI Link

AODN-IMOS Microdebris Contamination Data Dictionary [PDF size: 232 KB]

url : https://api.aims.gov.au/data-v2.0/fd3d74b0-0234-4864-bbc6-751c44e41f5e/files/AODN-IMOS_Microdebris-Contamination-Data-Dictionary_V9.pdf External Link

Marine Matters Newsletter #37 June 2022

url : https://api.aims.gov.au/data-v2.0/fd3d74b0-0234-4864-bbc6-751c44e41f5e/files/IMOS_Marine_Matters_issue_37_FINAL.pdf External Link

AODN-IMOS Microdebris Data (ALL) from Jan-2021 to Jun-2026 [zip folder size: 160 KB]

url : https://api.aims.gov.au/data-v2.0/fd3d74b0-0234-4864-bbc6-751c44e41f5e/files/AODN-IMOS_Jan2021_Jun2026_Microdebris_Data_03062026.zip External Link

Identifiers

global : fd3d74b0-0234-4864-bbc6-751c44e41f5e