Data from: Plastic loads of northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) collected as bycatch in the North Atlantic
Data files
Jun 09, 2026 version files 35.76 KB
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Fulmar_Plastic_MPB_dataset_Dryad.csv
34.06 KB
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README.md
1.70 KB
Abstract
This dataset contains information about 507 fulmars obtained from unintentional bycatch in demersal longline (N =505) or purse seine (N =2) fisheries by Norwegian and Icelandic fishers during the years 2018 to 2024 in the North Atlantic. Birds were obtained from four distinct geological regions: North Norway (=185), Central Norway (N = 43), East Greenland (N = 36) and Iceland (N = 243). Birds were dissected following standard OSPAR methodology, age and sex were determined based on morphology. Stomachs were opened over a sieve and all plastics > 1 mm were sorted, counted and weighed based on OSPAR methodology.
For each bird, we present the year, month and region, when/where the bird was taken as bycatch, age and the sex of the bird, as well as the following plastic parameters: GPLA - mass of all plastics, NPLA - number of all plastics, GIND - mass of industrial plastics, NIND - number of industrial plastics, GUSE - mass of user plastics and NUSE - number of user plastics.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.dz08kpscx
Description of the data and file structure
The file contains information about 507 fulmars obtained from unintentional bycatch in the North Atlantic. Birds were aged and sexed and the plastics in their stomachs were quantified based on standardized methods. Please refer to our manuscript for more information.
Exact locations and dates of bycatch events are not provided to protect the identity of fishers and their vessels that contributed to this study.
Files and variables
File: Fulmar_Plastic_MPB_dataset_Dryad.csv
Description:
Variables
- SampleCode: Individual identifier for each bird
- Area: spatial area where a given bird was taken as bycatch
- Year: Year in which a given bird was taken as bycatch
- Month: Month in which a given bird was taken as bycatch
- Age: Age of the bird, distinguished as adult (Ad) or non-adult (Non_ad). na = unknown
- Sex: Sex of the bird, distinguished as Male or Female. na = unknown
- GPLA: Mass of all plastics found in the stomach in gram (g)
- NPLA: Number of all plastic items found in the stomach (count)
- NIND: Numer of industrial plastics found in the stomach (count)
- GIND: Mass of industrial plastics found in the stomach in gram (g)
- NUSE: Numer of user plastics found in the stomach (count)
- GUSE: Mass of user plastics found in the stomach in gram (g)
Code/software
This is a csv file, which can be opened in Excel, or read into R.
Access information
This data has also been submitted to OSPAR.