Marine Litter ID cards are used on AECO vessels to facilitate the identification of litter found on the shores of Svalbard and other Arctic areas.

These cards give an overview of the most common types of litter found on Arctic Coasts. For each card, the first text box describes the item while the second text box provides and explanation of the possible sources.

Plastic litter is known to have serious impact on wildlife. Research shows that many animals, from seabirds to whales, accidentally ingest small and large plastic pieces and plastic bags. Entanglement is another type of negative or even deadly impact on wildlife.

Beach clean-ups are a good way to reduce the impact of litter in the Arctic, provided that the collected litter is then processed in a safe and responsible way. In Longyearbyen, the Governor provides a special container for this purpose.