Dataset beloning to "Evaluation of Riverine Macro- and Mesoplastic Monitoring Approaches"

Additionally, we performed an analysis highlighting the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis) of the three methods. During trawl net and stow net monitoring, more unique macro- and mesoplastics categories were found in comparison with simultaneous larvae net monitoring.

However, macro- and mesoplastics concentrations were significantly higher in the larvae net samples than in the trawl net and stow net samples, indicating that the plastic recovery rates depend on the sampling technique. The SWOT analysis pointed towards a better overall performance of the trawl net. The outcome of the current study can be used to support policymakers, industry, and the scientific community to devise a successful monitoring strategy for macro- and mesoplastics pollution in rivers, where the SWOT analysis facilitates the choice of the approach that best aligns with the specific monitoring goals and the environmental conditions of the target area