Inter-hemispherical shoreline surveys of anthropogenic marine debris – A binational citizen science project with schoolchildren

Honorato‐Zimmer, Daniela; Kruse, Katrin; Knickmeier, Katrin; Weinmann, Anna E.; Hinojosa, Iván A.; Thiel, Martín

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.11.048

Cited by 52 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Our findings support the main suggestion that continental plastics have recently reached the beaches by direct deposition (e.g. Bravo et al, 2009;Honorato-Zimmer et al, 2019), even though non-buoyant plastics can also strand on the shore under particular circumstances (e.g. storms or strong hydrodynamic processes) (Chubarenko & Stepanova, 2017;Collins & Hermes, 2019).…”

Section: Composition Of Plastics From Abiotic Compartmentssupporting

confidence: 89%

Factors (type, colour, density, and shape) determining the removal of marine plastic debris by seabirds from the South Pacific Ocean: Is there a pattern?

Hidalgo‐Ruz

Luna‐Jorquera

Frick

et al. 2020

Aquatic Conservation

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1. While floating near the sea surface plastic debris interacts with a number of external factors, including many different organisms. Seabirds have the most extensive documented history of interactions with plastics, through ingestion, entanglement, and nest construction. 2. In the present study, eight seabird species from the South Pacific Ocean were used as a proxy to determine potential patterns of removal of marine plastic debris, and three hypotheses were tested in relation to their feeding habits and nesting areas. 3. Plastics from abiotic compartments (Chilean continental coast, South Pacific Gyre, and Rapa Nui beaches) and biotic compartments (surface-feeding seabirds, diving seabirds, and nesting areas) were compared, according to their type, colour, shape, and density. 4. Continental beaches had a relatively wide range of colours and shapes, with many non-buoyant plastics. Samples from the South Pacific Gyre (SPG) and Rapa Nui (Easter Island) beaches comprised mainly hard, rounded, buoyant, and white/grey plastics. 5. These results indicate that the composition of floating plastics from terrestrial sources changes during transport with oceanic currents, reducing the proportion of prey-like plastics present in the subtropical gyres. 6. The stomach contents of surface-feeding and diving seabirds were dominated by hard, white/grey, and round plastic items, similar to plastics from the SPG, suggesting non-selective (accidental or secondary) ingestion. 7. Nesting areas had a more variable composition of brightly coloured plastics, suggesting a pattern of selective removal of plastics by seabirds, probably from oceanic sources. 8. The present study reveals extensive interactions of seabirds with plastics on a broader scale, which is highly relevant given that the impacts of plastics on seabirds are increasing worldwide, compromising their efficient conservation.

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Section: Composition Of Plastics From Abiotic Compartmentssupporting

confidence: 89%

Factors (type, colour, density, and shape) determining the removal of marine plastic debris by seabirds from the South Pacific Ocean: Is there a pattern?

Hidalgo‐Ruz

Luna‐Jorquera

Frick

et al. 2020

Aquatic Conservation

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“…Second, a quality-oriented environmental strategy with respect to marine litter is strongly recommended. Apart from the promotion of environmental cognition, fines and more trash cans [44,45], and efficient law implementation and enforcement mentioned before [46], when it comes to litter cleaning, plastic, butts and cans are the three main litter types and should be properly governed in the development of the coastal tourism industry. The perceptions of visitors regarding marine litter should also receive close attention because it will have an important impact on the effectiveness of litter removal.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Social Costs of Marine Litter along the East China Sea: Evidence from Ten Coastal Scenic Spots of Zhejiang Province, China

Shen

Xie

et al. 2019

Sustainability

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Marine litter poses numerous threats to the global environment. To estimate the social costs of marine litter in China, two stated preference methods, namely the contingent valuation model (CVM) and the choice experiment model (CEM), were used in this research. This paper conducted surveys at ten different beaches along the East China Sea in Zhejiang province in October 2017. The results indicate that approximately 74.1% of the interviewees are willing to volunteer to participate in clean-up programmes and are willing to spend 1.5 days per month on average in their daily lives, which equates to a potential loss of income of USD 1.08 per day. The willingness to pay for the removal of the main types of litter ranges from USD 0.12–0.20 per visitor across the four sample cities, which is mainly determined by the degree of the removal, the crowdedness of the beach and the visitor’s perception. The social costs are USD 1.08–1.40 per visitor when the contingent valuation method is applied and USD 1.00–1.07 per visitor when the choice experiment method is adopted, which accounts for 8–14% of the beach entrance fee. The analysis of the social costs of marine litter yielded some useful implications regarding future coastal management policy, including extra entrance fee, the quality-oriented environmental strategy and more incentives to volunteers.

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“…Even though research about marine plastics is still in its initial phase, there is already good evidence that most marine litter in Chile comes from local sources, with beach visitors, fisheries, and aquaculture activities being among the most significant sources (Bravo et al, 2009;Hidalgo-Ruz et al, 2018;Hinojosa & Thiel, 2009;Honorato-Zimmer et al, 2019;Perez-Venegas et al, 2018;Thiel et al, 2013). Based on questionnaires, interviews, and presentations at the meeting, it was identified that SPLACH members were currently conducting studies on three principal topics: (a) quantification of marine litter in the environment and in organisms, (b) interaction between marine litter and organisms (vertebrates and invertebrates), and (c) interaction between marine litter and other pollutants.…”

Section: What Do We Know In Chile? the Scientific Perspectivementioning

confidence: 99%

A country's response to tackling plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems: The Chilean way

Urbina

Luna‐Jorquera²,

Thiel³

et al. 2020

Aquatic Conservation

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1. Marine plastic pollution is worse than expected, and we are starting to realize its full extent and severity. Solving the plastic pollution problem is not easy, as it requires the action and commitment of all sectors of our society. With a coastline extending over 4,000 km (from 18 S to 56 S), Chile is a maritime country, and since plastics are potentially harmful for marine and coastal ecosystems, food security, and public health, plastic pollution is a real threat. 2. Chile is the sixth-largest exporter of seafood (fish, invertebrates, and algae) in the world, but the extent of plastic contamination of marine organisms, its potential effects on commercial species and aquaculture, and its subsequent effects on human health are mostly unknown. 3. Chile has recently introduced some legislation to prevent plastics from reaching the environment and the coastal ocean. Governmental and non-governmental organizations have joined an informal alliance to take action against plastic pollution, both at a national and regional level, but stronger involvement of producers and commerce is required for effective measures. 4. Chilean scientists working on plastic pollution have created the Scientific Plastic Pollution Alliance of Chile network, aiming to promote collaborative and coordinated research focused on this pollutant. The wide geographical extent of Chile, with researchers working in diverse ecosystems, provides a unique opportunity to better understand the consequences of one of the most recent and severe threats to biodiversity. 5. Rather than solely presenting the plastic pollution problem from the scientific perspective, this paper includes views from different sectors of society. Mitigating plastic pollution is exceptionally complex, with this study highlighting the importance of local engagement, media, solving social inequities, new legislation, and law enforcement in order to advance on decreasing plastic pollution from a country-wide perspective.

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Inter-hemispherical shoreline surveys of anthropogenic marine debris – A binational citizen science project with schoolchildren

Cited by 52 publications

References 59 publications

Factors (type, colour, density, and shape) determining the removal of marine plastic debris by seabirds from the South Pacific Ocean: Is there a pattern?

Factors (type, colour, density, and shape) determining the removal of marine plastic debris by seabirds from the South Pacific Ocean: Is there a pattern?

The Social Costs of Marine Litter along the East China Sea: Evidence from Ten Coastal Scenic Spots of Zhejiang Province, China

A country's response to tackling plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems: The Chilean way

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