Marine debris: Sources, characteristics, and environmental impact on Baturusa River, Bangka Belitung

• Published in: IOP conference series. Earth and environmental science Vol. 926; no. 1; pp. 12041 - 12046
• Main Authors: Syari, I A, Manik, J D N, Akhrianti, I, Pamungkas, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 01.11.2021
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Beaches; Coastal tourism; Debris; Detritus; Environmental impact; Estuaries; Estuarine ecosystems; Households; Human influences; Mangroves; Marine debris; Marine pollution; Rivers; Tourism; Waste management
• ISSN: 1755-1307; 1755-1315
• DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/926/1/012041

Abstract Seas are highly susceptible to pollution from marine debris. Baturusa River at the Bangka Belitung Islands province may be a major source of marine debris. Anthropogenic activities such as urban settlements, ports, and coastal tourism contribute to marine debris which threatens the environment. This study located at Koala and Pasir Padi Beach and the mangrove ecosystems surrounding the Baturusa estuary. The sampling and analyzing methods were based on NOAA and MoEF guidelines which categorize debris into macro-sized and meso-sized. In terms of weight, plastic dominated the macro and meso marine debris samples from Pasir Padi Beach with 60% and 100% respectively, and from Koala Beach with 30% and 56% respectively. The density of the debris samples mostly came from plastic with 3.4 pcs/m 2 for macro, and cork with 0.76 pcs/m 2 for meso. The source of the marine debris is assumed to be households and tourism, where waste is deposited in the river and is carried to the estuary where it threatens the mangrove ecosystems. The Mangrove Health Index of the Baturusa estuary is moderate , with 41.44% and 39.42% respectively. This study will be a fundamental data for formulating the most suitable regulation of waste management in Bangka Belitung.