Waterborne transport contribution to the Lithuanian marine and near-shore pollution

Abstract

Marine regions have the historical attractiveness of exploitation of natural resources and access to trades using marine transport as well, opportunities for recreation and tourism. European maritime activities in general and Lithuanian in particular are the essential sectors of the economy and social life with an ever-increasing tendency for further development. The exploitation of marine resources leads to the appearance of anthropogenic pressures and requires ongoing preventive and protective actions against chemical physical and marine littering pollution. The following article discusses potential ways of marine and near-shore pollution resulting from shipping activities at Lithuanian marine waters that appear in the ways of littering and dispersal of its debris, introduction of noise energy. The role of the water body’s hydrological and climatic conditions having an influence on waste migration from the sea to the shore is demonstrated. The methods of presented research encompass an analysis of ships’ automatic identification system data, identification of the pollution’s accumulation points based on the CERC method is assessed [9], the analysis of underwater noise levels registered at Lithuanian marine areas is completed. The analysis of the legal EU regulations along with local law related to marine and near-shore pollution monitoring and management is completed. Due to the acquired results, the specific prevention measures for maritime activities pollution mitigation are presented. The recommendations based on international practice towards the prevention of marine littering, marine pollution and the introduction of underwater noise energy are provided.