From June 13 to 23, 2026, researchers from CNR-ISMAR working on the EPIC project participated in marine debris monitoring campaigns in Corsica, in the northern part of the island, covering the area from the east coast to the west coast.
A monitoring campaign of marine macro-litter washed ashore, conducted in mid-June 2026 by researchers from CNR-ISMAR as part of the EPIC project, confirmed what had already been highlighted in the previous campaign carried out two months earlier: ocean currents play a fundamental role in determining where debris from the sea accumulates. As with the April 2026 monitoring effort in Sardinia, approximately twenty beaches without managed beach facilities were surveyed in Corsica as well, distributed along both the eastern and western sides of Cap Corse, where protected areas and marine parks are located. And as in Sardinia, the results show a higher abundance of debris in the western part of the island. In general, however, the beaches in this northern part of Corsica have a low density of waste; accumulations were found at only a few sites—all on the western side—and in one case, the accumulation was quite substantial. Another interesting finding, which mirrors what was already observed in Sardinia, is the presence of material (identifiable by its labels) clearly originating from Africa (Tunisia, Algeria, etc.) . The transport from the African coast to the island’s western coast occurred via ocean currents, particularly the Atlantic Current, a portion of which, after entering the Sardinian Channel, flows up the western coast of Sardinia and continues north toward Corsica.
Also of interest was the discovery of material of Italian origin but dating back to a local production line (the “Niveina” produced in La Spezia) that ceased operations in the 1970s. The state of decay and the presence of numerous colonies of encrusting benthic organisms indicate a long period of time spent in the water. In this case, “remote” waste—not because of distance, but because of age!
We could say that the “paths of waste” are endless, but being able to trace their origin is a crucial piece of the puzzle for understanding the main sources of discharge, how the waste moves, and, consequently, where it ends up. The EPIC project is conducting this study in parallel with the “Plastic Detectives” project, in which it collaborates with the “LABOMAR” Institute and the A.M.I. (Ambiente Mare Italia) association to identify macro-debris washed ashore, both in Italy and along certain Brazilian coasts, as part of the recently established agreement between CNR and ICMbio (Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade).
