Horizon 1 1 17 ACL : Articles dans des revues avec comité de lecture répertoriées par l'AERES Marine Pollution Bulletin 114765 [18 ] MEDITERRANEE 2023 fdi:010087874 ENG Marine Pollution Bulletin 0025-326X ISI:000962774500001 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114765 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010087874 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2023-06/010087874.pdf 189 Horizon (IRD) This paper looks at experiential feedback and the technical and scientific challenges tied to the MERITE-HIPPOCAMPE cruise that took place in the Mediterranean Sea in spring 2019. This cruise proposes an innovative approach to investigate the accumulation and transfer of inorganic and organic contaminants within the planktonic food webs. We present detailed information on how the cruise worked, including 1) the cruise track and sampling stations, 2) the overall strategy, based mainly on the collection of plankton, suspended particles and water at the deep chlorophyll maximum, and the separation of these particles and planktonic organisms into various size fractions, as well as the collection of atmospheric deposition, 3) the operations performed and material used at each station, and 4) the sequence of operations and main parameters analysed. The paper also provides the main environmental conditions that were prevailing during the campaign. Lastly, we present the types of articles produced based on work completed by the cruise that are part of this special issue. 038 ; 034 UR235 / UR161 Tunisie