Tyre Coast Nature Reserve (TCNR), Lebanese partner of the Plastic Busters CAP project is looking for a quotation consultancy for monitoring marine litter in Tyre waters, including Tyre Coast Nature Reserve.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CONSULTANT

• Monitoring the floating (macro/micro) litter on sea surfaces during the wet/ and dry season of Tyre waters (including Tyre Coast Nature Reserve-TCNR waters), using the Plastic Busters Cap toolkit. The number of samples is set to 3 sites facing TCNR, over 3 transects (1.5 nm, 3 nm, and 6 nm). In this context, the total number of samples becomes 18.
• Monitoring the Macro/Micro Litter on fish/ and mollusks species, using the Plastic Buster Cap toolkit. Experts should collect samples from specimens of fish Lithognathus mormyrus, and Boops boops (25 each one), and Mollusks Brachidontes pharaonis (50 specimens). This step will be done in cooperation with Tyre Coast Nature Reserve.
• Presenting two detailed reports (one progress report (deadline May 2023)/ and one final report (deadline September 2023), including all the related data (Photos/ Maps/ Excel sheet/ Statistical analyses) to TCNR. The final report should include a comparison with already existing and published data on the impact of marine litter done at the national level.
• Conduct stakeholder training related to the monitoring activities.

IMPORTANT POINTS

• Experts are expected to use their equipment and materials to monitor floating litter and Macro/ Micro litter on fish and mollusks, including recording sheets printed on waterproof paper.
• For micro litter sampling, the needed equipment and utensils should also be secured by the team of experts, including, among others, the manta net with wings and cod end (mesh size 200 µm or 300 µm); oceanographic flowmeter; a cool box to be used as sample container (the complete list of equipment and utensils needed, will be provided along with the floating macro litter monitoring toolkit).
• During the microlitter sampling with the Manta, the experts will monitor the floating macro litter visually and record their findings using the PBCAP toolkit (datasheet) to prepare their results report. - After the sampling of micro litter, the team will conduct preliminary micro litter separation (organic from plastic), sorting (size, color, shape), and reporting (microplastic reporting data sheet). Samples should then be shipped to Italy to Siena University for further (chemical) analyses.
• For micro litter on fish and mollusks, experts are responsible for all the steps to collect the samples and analyze them. In case of analysis difficulty, samples should be sent to Siena University. However, this step should be clarified before going to Tyre Coast Nature Reserve.
• Experts are responsible collect the fish and mollusks needed to implement the task.
• Experts are responsible for all the laboratory / statistical/ needed analyses.
• Experts may train and work closely with a Ph.D./ or Ph.D. student/ or Master degree student who will be involved in the project by TCNR.

All the activities should be done in coordination with Tyre Coast Nature Reserve.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• Experience on monitoring Marine Litter (protocols/ equipment’s).
• Experience on writing and presenting scientific reports.
• Availability of equipment and laboratory for the analysis.

HOW TO APPLY

The application should include the following:

• A technical offer presents proof of qualification and a clear work plan (including material/ methods/ equipment).
• A financial/detailed offer for implementing all the tasks

Please submit your application file before the 15 of March 2023 to tcnr98@hotmail.com and to the project Manager: Dr. Ali Badreddine (ali.badreddine@otmail.com) specify Plastic Busters CAP – Monitoring Marine Litter in the email subject.

DEADLINE

The application deadline is March 15th, 2023. Only allowed applicants will be contacted for further file compilation.

ABOUT

Plastic Buster Cap tackles one of the world's biggest challenges, especially in the Mediterranean Sea: "Marine Litter". The project will help enhance and transfer knowledge, experience, and best practice tools that address the entire management cycle of marine litter, from monitoring and assessment to prevention and mitigation, towards an integrated and strategic approach that couples Ecosystem-Based Management and Integrated Coastal Zone Management into local development planning. One of the project's activities is conducting Marine Litter monitoring actions. In this context, Tyre Coast Nature Reserve (TCNR) is looking for a team of experts for the implementation of monitoring and training activities related to the study of the impact of marine litter on:

• The sea surface of Tyre waters, including Tyre Coast Nature Reserve.
• Fishes and Mollusks species.