Abstract
Plastic pollution and the resulting entanglement of marine wildlife is a global and growing issue. However, there is a significant lack of knowledge about the impacts of marine litter on marine biodiversity in Morocco. Based on a digital media search, we evaluated the negative impacts of marine litter on Moroccan marine biodiversity. The study demonstrated that sixty-eight individuals from 18 species were affected by marine litter. Cetaceans are most affected by entanglements, followed by sea turtles, fish, seabirds and elasmobranchs. Most of the reported entanglements were from discarded or lost fishing gear, indicating the importance of strengthening existing legislation for the protection of endangered marine animals and implementing mitigation measures related to discarded fishing litter. This study is the first inventory of marine wildlife affected by marine litter in Morocco, but the real status stays underestimated and still somewhat unclear.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.