Marine Microplastics in Polar Region—a Spitsbergen Case Study

The aim of this short paper is to report the presence of primary and secondary microplastics in Svalbard and surrounding waters. The sampling and monitoring were done during the AREX 2017 polar expedition and included the Spitsbergen (Longyear- byen, Pyramiden) and western fjords, in particular Isfjorden, Kongsfjorden. Moreover, the unique sci- entific trawls were carried out in Raudefjorden at the very north coast of Spitsbergen. Finally, the plastic tide effects were confirmed at the Prins Karl Forland Island.