Composition and abundance of marine debris stranded on the beaches of Sri Lanka: Results from the first island-wide survey

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 128; pp. 126 - 131
• Main Authors: Jang, Yong Chang, Ranatunga, R.R.M.K.P., Mok, Jin Yong, Kim, Kyung Shin, Hong, Su Yeon, Choi, Young Rae, Gunasekara, A.J.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Abundance; Bathing Beaches - standards; Beach survey; Beaches; Coasts; Composition; Consumer products; Debris; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Fishing; Fishing gear; Heterogeneity; Islands; Marine debris; Marine pollution; Packaging materials; Patchiness; Plastic; Plastics; Plastics - analysis; River mouth; River mouths; Rivers; Rivers - chemistry; Spatial heterogeneity; Sri Lanka; Stranding; Surveying; Surveys and Questionnaires; Temporal variations; Urbanization; Waste materials; Waste Products - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Sri Lanka; Beach survey; Plastic; Sri Lanka; Marine debris
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.01.018

This study provides the first assessment of marine debris washed ashore on 22 beaches along the coast of Sri Lanka. There was an average of 4.1 large (>25 mm) and 158 small (5–25 mm) pieces of debris per square meter of beach. Classified by use, packaging material (55%) dominated the debris, followed by consumer products (25%) and fishing gear (20%). In terms of materials, plastic was the greatest contributor (93%) to marine debris. Beaches near a river mouth or city and those with a barrier had greater debris accumulations. The east coast had significantly greater small debris density, possibly due to strong northeastern monsoon currents. Large spatial heterogeneity was observed in the amount of debris. Long-term monitoring is imperative to better understand the temporal changes in, and the pathways and possible management of, marine debris.
•Marine debris in Sri Lanka was assessed for the first time.•Beaches contained 4.1 large pieces of debris (>25 mm) per square meter.•Packaging material comprised 55% of beached debris.•Beach typology greatly influenced the quantity of debris.