Dr. Friederike Stock is a research assistant in the Department of Biochemistry and Ecotoxicology at the German Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG; Koblenz, Germany) since 2016. She has a Ph.D. in sedimentology /paleogeography from the University of Cologne, Germany. Dr. Stock is leading a project about micro- and macroplastics in German ivers and is involved in an international project about plastics in fresh- and marine waters. During the last years, she organized conferences and workshops to get scientists, politicians and stakeholders together, is responsible for a homepage about plastics [...] and published several scientific research papers about plastics.Dr. Georg Reifferscheid is Head of the Department of Biochemistry and Ecotoxicology and Deputy Head of the Division Qualitative Hydrology of the German Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG; Koblenz, Germany). He has a Ph.D. in genetic toxicology (University of Mainz, Germany). Dr. Reifferscheid has broad experience in ecotoxicology, toxicological risk assessment and project management. He is involved in various standardization projects within ISO TC147 Water Quality Subcommittee 5 Biological methods (SC5). He is Chairperson of SC5 and a member of Joint ISO/TC 147/SC 2 - ISO/TC 61/SC 14 Working Group: Plastics (including microplastics) in waters and related matrices.
Dr. Nicole Brennholt is a research scientist in the Department of Biochemistry and Ecotoxicology at the German Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG; Koblenz, Germany) since 2009. She has a Ph.D. in ecology from the University of Essen, Germany. Dr. Brennholt is in charge of national and international projects dealing with (micro-)plastic issues in freshwater and marine ecosystems and microbial water quality. Furthermore, she manages the microbial laboratory (biosafety level 2). With her colleagues she organized several national and international workshops and symposia on plastics in marine and freshwater environments.Dr. Evgeniia Kostianaia is a researcher at the P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow, Russia). She is involved in several international initiatives such as acting as the Focal Point for the International Ocean Institute (Malta) for Moscow, Russia; representing Russia as the Black Sea Young Ambassador and being a member of the working group on sustainable development of the Caspian Sea region and the Caspian Integrated Scientific Network (CASPISNET). She has helped organize several conferences on sustainable development of the Russian parts of the Azov, Black and Caspian Seas.

Collects different scientific and societal approaches to tackle aquatic plastic pollution

Explores the challenges and barriers expected in plastic pollution management

Outlines the policies proposed by various institutions including OSPAR, HELCOM, World Bank and European Union

Introductory remarks on the role of stakeholders in addressing plastic pollution of the aquatic environment.- Human perceptions and behavior determine aquatic plastic pollution.- Society role in the reduction of plastic pollution.- Education against Plastic Pollution: Current Approaches and Best Practices.- Stakeholder analysis in solving the problem of accumulation of plastics in surface waters of protected areas.- The role of policy in tackling plastic waste in the aquatic environment.- Monitoring approaches for marine litter in the European Sea basins.- Plastics in the Austrian stretch of the Danube River - From environmental data to action plans at the local, national and international level.- Plastics in freshwater: a new challenge for the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR)?.- Five years since the 2013 HELCOM Ministerial Declaration.- Combating marine plastics: the role of finance and technical assistance by Development Finance Institutions.- The current state of law on plastic pollution in Mexico and a view towards the future.- The problem of microplastics and regulatory strategies in Italy.- Concluding remarks on the role of stakeholders in addressing plastic pollution of the aquatic environment.