We are excited to announce that the Nurdle Patrol sampling methodology was published in February 2020 in the science journal Marine Pollution Bulletin. The paper identifies not only how sampling is conducted, but how the data can be used in helping to guide policy. With the paper being open access, this means it can be downloaded and shared for free, by anyone! We are hoping this paper helps communities across the country use the Nurdle Patrol data for future research and litigation against companies that are releasing plastic pellets into the waterways. Anyone in the world can add data into www.nurdlepatrol.org and create a map that shows concentrations of pellets collected in 10 minutes, which could help in identifying the source of pellets in their area. We believe the citizen scientist's passion, this paper, the nurdle mapping tool, and working with environmental regulators is the key to reducing plastic pellet pollution.
Here's the reference:
Tunnell, J., Dunning, K., Scheef, L., and Swanson, K. 2020. Measuring plastic pellet (nurdle) abundance on shorelines throughout the Gulf of Mexico using citizen scientists: Establishing a platform for policy-relevant research. Marine Pollution Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110794
For more interesting discussions about nurdles, please follow us on Facebook at Nurdle Patrol and at www.NurdlePatrol.org.
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About the author: Jace Tunnell is the director of the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, Texas. Jace coordinates the citizen science project known as Nurdle Patrol, works with partners to further habitat protection and education of estuaries, and promotes conservation of natural places through video production, photography, and science.