Public participation in beach clean-up activities to raise awareness and reduce marine litter for the protection of the Black Sea ecosystem

Abstract

Human activities and poor awareness are believed to be responsible for marine litter pollution. In the scope of the European Union, Cross Border Cooperation, and Black Sea Basin (EU, CBC, BSB - 785) LitOUTer Project, “Raising Public Awareness and Reducing Marine Litter for the Protection of the Black Sea Ecosystem”, beach clean-up activities have been conducted. A beach clean-up activity was conducted at the Kıyıcık Beach, Trabzon, Turkiye involved by Stakeholders, NGOs, middle to high school, university students, teachers, and lecturers. This study aims to reveal the amount of marine litter at Kıyıcık Beach through public participation in beach clean-up activities. A total of 4488 solid wastes (∼100 kg) were collected and removed from the beach. The waste composition consisted of 50% plastic, 22% metal, 10% glass, 8% paper, 4% cloth, 1% metal, and 4% Covid-19-related waste. Plastic pieces, plastic bottles, and caps dominated the plastic litter on the beach. Moreover, 119 single-use face masks (Covid-19-related waste) were collected. Single-use plastic waste in the environment implies the impact of human activities and a lack of awareness regarding marine litter. Public participation in beach clean-up activities is expected to raise individual awareness and reduce marine litter to protect the Black Sea Ecosystem.