Marine debris governance and regional dynamics in Southeast Asia

Marine debris poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems in Southeast Asia, where rapid economic development, high concentrations of coastal populations, and limitations in waste management systems are widely recognized as contributing pressures. Despite the growing body of marine debris (MD) research, comparative and country-focused analyses that examine how these pressures manifest across the five largest contributing countries-Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam-remain limited. This review systematically assesses patterns of MD sources, entry pathways, spatial distribution, and ecological impacts across these nations using a bibliometric analysis of 83 peer-reviewed studies published over the last decade. The findings highlight the predominance of land-based inputs to coastal and marine environments, with plastic waste and fishing gear consistently identified as the dominant MD types affecting marine biota. Rather than attributing MD generation to a single driver, the review underscores how interactions between coastal development, population concentration, and waste management capacity shape debris pathways in different national contexts. As the first review to provide a comparative synthesis focused on the top MD-producing countries in Southeast Asia, this study offers a robust evidence base to inform targeted, context-specific management strategies and policy interventions aimed at protecting the region’s vulnerable marine environments.