A comprehensive analysis of stranded, drifting, and benthic marine debris removed by coastal fishers across Japan

Amid growing global concern about the impact of marine plastic debris on the marine environment, fishers are expected to remove debris from their fishing gear during day-to-day fishing, and bring it back to land for proper disposal. However, a comprehensive survey of stranded, drifting, and benthic marine debris removed by fishers across Japan has not yet been undertaken. This study aims to analyze fishers' removal activities and the challenges they encounter. Nominal variables-such as ocean currents, the size of Fisheries Cooperative Association (FCA), and fishing types-were selected as external factors to examine their statistical significance and contribution to removal efforts using inferential statistical analysis. Correspondence analysis was applied to illustrate the relationship between currents and types of debris. Nearly 90% of FCAs across Japan experienced at least one of the three categories of marine debris at the same time and carried out removal operations for at least one of them. Significant relationships were identified between ocean currents and the presence or absence of removal activities for all types of marine debris. FCAs engaged in small-scale trawl fisheries were more likely to carry out benthic debris removal. Correspondence analysis showed that plastic products were removed by fishers across nearly all areas. This study contributes to the policy implications of reducing plastic pollution and promoting sustainable marine management by highlighting the role of coastal fishers in the removal of stranded, drifting, and benthic marine debris.