> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://blog.indecol.no/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# New publication: Global distribution of potential impact hotspots for marine plastic debris entanglement
- URL: https://blog.indecol.no/new-publication-global-distribution-of-potential-impact-hotspots-for-marine-plastic-debris-entanglement/
- Published: 2022-01-04T09:25:40.000Z
- Updated: 2022-01-04T13:40:57.000Z
- Author: Marthe Alnes Høiberg
- Tags: Atlantis-ERC, LCIA group, #Import 2024-09-12 09:07, #Import 2026-11-04 18:06

An important component of the ATLANTIS project is the development of global models for impacts of plastic debris on marine ecosystems, in accordance with the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) framework. As a means towards achieving this goal, we have developed an indicator of potential macroplastic entanglement impact levels, which has now been published in Ecological Indicators: [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.108509](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.108509?ref=blog.indecol.no)

By combining observed entanglement rates from marine mammals, turtles and birds with the species populations’ ranges and exposure to plastic debris concentrations, we have modelled the potentially affected fraction (PAF) of species. This indicator covers the world’s oceans in a spatially explicit manner, and reveals potential hotspots where a larger fraction of species may be exposed to entanglement impacts. The indicator highlights the global issue of entanglements and communicates parts of the damage potential that mismanaged plastic has on marine biodiversity.

![](https://blog.indecol.no/content/images/2022/01/FIG2wordformat-1.jpg)

Potentially affected fraction (PAF) of species by macroplastic entanglement

This work has also resulted in the first indicator for macroplastic effects that is ready to be applied in impact assessments. Once a separate model that estimates the distribution patterns, i.e. the fate, of a given plastic “emission” has been fully developed, we are ready to incorporate the impact pathway of macroplastic entanglement in LCIA.