Marine Debris: A Global Environmental and Socioeconomic Challenge to Coastal and Marine Ecosystems

Marine debris is an alarming issue for the marine environment and impacts the coastal and marine life by causing severe injuries, reduced health, decreased reproductive output and mortality. Over 400 million tons of plastic are produced every year for use in a wide variety of applications. At least 14 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year, and plastic makes up 80% of all marine debris found from surface waters to deep-sea sediments. Plastic pollution threatens food safety and quality, human health, coastal tourism, and contributes to climate change. Due to its durability, society’s adoption of plastics as a substitute for traditional materials has expanded almost exponentially as a result, large-scale plastic production began. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore new and existing legally binding agreements to address management of marine debris. This study aimed to review the marine debris with respect to types, sources, decomposition rate, impacts, and strategies for management of marine debris. The socioeconomic effects of marine debris were observed on maritime sectors (fisheries and aquaculture, coastal communities and tourism, costs of beach cleaning); high concern of the society about marine debris; and human health risks (injuries due to pieces of glass, metal fragments, discarded syringes and medical waste). The result also showed that to reduce the impacts of marine debris, it is necessary to change mind-set and habits of people about waste disposal, and to avoid production and use of single-use plastics by producers and consumers. It is suggested that, input prevention should be the major objective during management efforts of marine debris. Reduction measures such as proper waste management, plastic recycling, and stringent penalties for illegal waste dumping are essential to reduce the marine debris.