Accidental spills of plastic pellets have become one of the most complex threats to European marine ecosystems. These small pellets, which serve as raw material for most plastic products, are transported in bulk by sea and, when they fall into the water, are almost impossible to recover due to their small size and their ability to disperse with currents. The lack of a common protocol in Europe to deal with these types of emergencies has led six entities from Spain, France and Norway to launch the POLARIS project.
The initiative, coordinated by the Environmental Hydraulics Institute of the University of Cantabria (IHCantabria), aims to provide public administrations with scientific and operational tools that allow them to anticipate, detect and clean up these spills more effectively. The project combines research, equipment testing, and capacity building. so that coastal countries can respond in a coordinated manner to incidents that, due to their cross-border nature, affect multiple territories.
A growing problem on European coasts
In recent years, several maritime accidents have highlighted the vulnerability of the European coastline to coal pellets. The Trans Carrier in 2020, the X-Press Pearl in 2021, the Toconao in 2023, and the collision between the Solong and the Stena Immaculate in 2025 are just a few examples of how A spill of this nature can contaminate hundreds of kilometers of coastline and require weeks or months of cleanup. Unlike hydrocarbons, pellets do not dissolve or degrade quickly, but instead float and fragment into even smaller particles, exacerbating their impact on wildlife and ecosystems.
National and local authorities have denounced the lack of risk maps, predictive models, and shared protocols. The low visibility of the pellets at sea and their high dispersion capacity These factors hinder both their location and the collection efforts, which are lengthy, costly, and require a large deployment of human and material resources. Furthermore, coordination between the different levels of government and the volunteers mobilized during emergencies remains insufficient.
The objectives of the POLARIS project
To fill this gap, POLARIS is structured around three main pillars. The first aims to improve operational response and scientific knowledge about the behavior of pellets once deployed. The second focuses on developing tools, guidelines, and best practices for authorities and operators involved in incident management. The third axis addresses risk communication and capacity building, expressly including the media and volunteers as recipients of information strategies.
Specific actions include the creation of pellet drift prediction systems, the development of risk maps for the most vulnerable areas, and the testing of recovery equipment both at sea and on the coast. The project also includes practical exercises and the validation of tools. with the agencies responsible for civil protection and maritime rescue.
A multidisciplinary consortium
The POLARIS consortium comprises six partners from three European countries. In addition to IHCantabria as coordinator, participants include the French center CEDRE (specializing in accidental pollution), Météo-France (the French meteorological service), the Basque technology center AZTI, the Spanish Maritime Safety and Rescue Agency (SASEMAR), and the Norwegian Coastal Administration. The combination of research bodies, operational agencies, and knowledge centers It allows the problem to be addressed from a comprehensive perspective, uniting science and practical experience.
The project coordinator, Ana J. Abascal, pointed out that "POLARIS brings together experts from different disciplines and countries to address this problem with a truly collaborative approach." By combining scientific research with operational experience, the consortium aims to offer practical tools and evidence-based solutions. that strengthen the preparedness of the authorities and their capacity to respond to plastic pellet spills.
Funding and next steps
The project has a total budget of €837.057,83, 90% of which is funded by the European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO). POLARIS will be developed between 2026 and 2028, during which time the planned research, testing, and training activities will take place. The initiative aims to provide European institutions with specific procedures to act more quickly and effectively. in the face of future spills, thus protecting the marine and coastal environments of the continent.
The launch of POLARIS represents a step forward in the fight against microplastic pollution, a problem that will continue to grow as global transport and production of plastics increases. International cooperation and the development of shared tools They will be key to minimizing the impact of future incidents and ensuring a coordinated response that protects both biodiversity and economic activities linked to the coastline.