Measuring plastic pellet (nurdle) abundance on shorelines throughout the Gulf of Mexico using citizen scientists: Establishing a platform for policy-relevant research

Abstract

There is an increasing awareness of microplastics within the global problem of marine plastic pollution. In 2018, small plastic pellets or "nurdles" were observed on the beaches of Corpus Christi, Texas. A citizen science project, "Nurdle Patrol," was established by the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve to monitor the presence of nurdles, with volunteer interest enabling this project to expand across the Gulf of Mexico region. This case study describes the sampling methodology, the policy framework, and initial quantitative data from the citizen science project on nurdle distribution along the Gulf coast. A total of 2042 Nurdle Patrol surveys have been conducted by 744 citizen scientists covering shorelines from Mahahual, Mexico to Fort Jefferson, Florida. All 20 of the highest standardized nurdle counts were recorded at sites in Texas. Results can inform decision-maker response across regulatory scales and further research on nurdle pollution.