This study estimated the concentration of floating microplastics (i.e. plastics measuring less than 5mm; reported in unit of pieces/m3) in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia collected from 2020-03-16 to 2020-03-24. Microplastics in the surface water were collected using a manta net. This dataset contains the results from all 16 surface water samples, in a spreadsheet format.

This study estimated the concentration of microplastics (i.e. plastics measuring less than 5mm; reported in unit of items/kg d.w) in beach sediments along the Thoothukudi coast, Gulf of Mannar region, India, during 2021-01-03 to 2021-06-08. Microplastics in the sediments were collected using a shovel. This dataset contains the results from all 36 sediment samples, in a spreadsheet format.

This study estimated the concentration of microplastics (i.e. plastics measuring less than 5mm; reported in unit of items/kg d.w.) in shoreline and seabed sediments in the Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, USA, during 2020-09-25 to 2021-06-03. Microplastics in the shoreline sediments were collected using a metal spoon while those in the seabed sediments were collected using a Van Veen grab sampler. Data on sediment dry weight (reported in unit of g) and individual counts of microplastic fibers, fragments and films are provided. This dataset contains the results from all 76 shoreline and 7 seabed sediment samples, in a spreadsheet format.

This study estimated the concentration of microplastics (i.e. plastics measuring less than 5mm) in seawater (reported in unit of items/m3), and sediments (reported in unit of items/kg d.w.), in the Hangzhou Bay, China during 2020-09-11 to 2020-11-21. Microplastics in the seawater were collected using a plankton net while those in the sediment were collected using a sediment grab sampler. Data on hydrologic conditions in the study area were also collected. These include water depth (reported in unit of m), seawater temperature (reported in unit of oC), seawater dissolved oxygen (reported in unit of mg/L), seawater pH, and seawater salinity (reported in unit of ‰). This dataset contains the results from all 26 seawater, and 26 sediment samples, in a spreadsheet format.

This study estimated the concentration of microplastics (i.e. plastics measuring less than 5mm, reported in unit of pieces/kg d.w.) on beaches along the western Gulf of Thailand during 2019-09-22. Microplastic data were collected using a metal spoon. This dataset contains the results from all 25 beach samples, in a spreadsheet format.

This dataset contains surface microplastics (i.e., plastics measuring less than 5mm, reported in unit of pieces/m^3) concentration in the global ocean collected by the Oceaneye Association. Microplastics data was collected from 2011-08-31 to 2021-10-05 using manta nets by several trained volunteer groups and Citizen Scientists. This dataset contains the results from all 802 sampling efforts, in a spreadsheet format.

This study estimated the concentration of marine plastics in waters around Australia using surface Neuston and Manta net tows. Data was collected during seven transit voyages aboard Australian vessels. The study undertook three consecutive 15-minute net tows at 57 locations. The 839 marine plastics recorded during the study were predominantly small fragments (i.e. ‘‘microplastics’’, median length = 2.8 mm, mean length = 4.9 mm) resulting from the breakdown of larger objects made of polyethylene and polypropylene (e.g. packaging and fishing items).

This study was carried out to estimate the floating microplastics (i.e. plastics measuring less than 5mm, reported in unit of pieces/m^3) concentration in the South Pacific subtropical gyre. Microplastics data were collected with manta nets during an expedition that occurred between 2011-03-28 to 2011-04-21. This dataset contains the results from all 48 sampling stations, in a spreadsheet format.

This study was carried out to estimate the microplastics (i.e. plastics measuring less than 5mm, reported in unit of pieces/m^3) concentration in the Bay of Bengal and South Pacific Ocean. Microplastics data was collected from 2013-05-27 to 2015-11-04. The Bay of Bengal expedition was aboard SV Mir while the South Pacific Ocean expedition was aboard RV Cabo de Hornos. During the two expeditions, the study investigated whether the microplastics sampling instruments, the new, high-speed AVANI trawl (All-purpose Velocity Accelerated Net Instrument) collected similar amounts and types of microplastics as two established scientific trawl designs, the manta trawl and the neuston net. The AVANI trawl can collect microplastics from the sea surface at relatively higher speeds up to 8 knots and during long transits (allowing for a nearly continuous sampling effort over long distances), whereas the manta and neuston trawls must be towed slowly in a less turbulent sea state and often represent shorter tow lengths. This dataset contains the results from all 36 sampling stations in the Bay of Bengal and 52 sampling stations in the South Pacific Ocean, in a spreadsheet format.

This study estimated the concentration of surface microplastics (i.e. plastics measuring less than 5mm, reported in unit of pieces/m2) in Mexican beaches from 2018-04-08 to 2018-07-17. Microplastic data were collected using a PVC cylinder. This dataset contains the results from all 330 beach sand samples, in a spreadsheet format.