Dynamics of marine debris in the point calimere wildlife and bird sanctuary wetland, southeastern coast of India

Abstract

Marine debris pollution in wetlands is a largely neglected problem despite its impact on the biodiversity. This manuscript presents the findings of a comprehensive study conducted in the Point Calimere wetland, spanning March 2022 to February 2023, to assess the abundance, composition, and sources of anthropogenic debris. During the survey, 1760 debris items weighing 192.51 kg were collected from fifteen transects, revealing significant variations in both count and weight across the sampling sites. Plastic debris was predominant in terms of both count and weight, followed by cloth/fabric. They emerged as the most prevalent type, exhibiting the widest count range and maximum abundance per transect. Specific debris types, such as plastic rope/small net pieces, were more prevalent in both count and weight. Analysis of debris per square meter indicated an average abundance of 1.23 ± 1.17 items and an average weight of 144.34 ± 70.01 g. Statistical analysis confirmed the significant influence of transects and quadrats on debris count abundance, with varying effects across different transects. The study also identified shoreline and recreational activities and ocean/water activities as primary sources of marine debris. Land-based sources had a higher count, while sea-based sources contributed more to the overall weight. These findings provide valuable insights into marine debris distribution, composition, and sources, which can inform targeted mitigation strategies and conservation efforts.