Beach litter sampling strategies: is there a 'best' method?

Ten methods for sampling beach litter were tested on 16 beaches located aro und the Firth of Forth, Scotland in order to ascertain the effectiveness of the various methods. Both fresh and/or accumulated litter were sampled. So me methods were more effective for recording gross amounts of litter. Maxim um litter counts could be obtained by surveying the top boundary of the bea ch (e.g. vegetation line, retaining wall, rocks), Lowest amounts mere obtai ned by surveying one five metre wide belt transect from the vegetation line to the shore. Some bias towards highlighting particular litter types was s hown by specific methods. It was concluded that there were advantages and d isadvantages for each method and that the aims of the study would in the en d determine the method, (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.