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Abundance of Marine Macrodebris on the Northern Coast of Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka
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Researchers surveyed four fishing sites along Sri Lanka's Jaffna Peninsula coast and found average plastic debris densities of 1.66 items/m², with fishing rope and net fragments, weathered plastic pieces, and beverage bottles dominating—all sites classified as exceptionally polluted under standardized Clean Coast and Plastic Abundance indices.
Marine plastic debris has emerged as a pressing concern along the northern coast of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, posing a significant threat to marine resources. A preliminary study was conducted to investigate the abundance and characteristics of marine plastic debris at four major fish landing sites in the northern coast of Jaffna, using the Clean Coast Index (CCI) and Plastic Abundance Index (PAI). The results revealed that the average abundance of marine debris and plastic debris were 1.71 ± 0.42 items/m2 and 1.66 ± 0.57 items/m2, respectively. The most common types of plastic debris represented plastic rope and net pieces (23.2%), followed by unidentified weathered plastic fragments (16.7%), beverage bottles (16.2%), bottle caps and lids (13%), and styrofoam (14.1%). The recognized sources of plastic debris were mainly fishing-based activities, recreation activities, transboundary sources, and unidentified sources. The fish landing sites were classified as exceptionally polluted, with a CCI exceeding 10 and a PAI value exceeding 8. Myliddy had the highest debris density, indicating substantial pollution levels, followed by Point Pedro, Mathagal, and Valveddithurai. These findings underscore the urgency of establishing a comprehensive plastic waste management framework for the northern coast of Jaffna and devising strategies to address buoyant debris within the northern Indian Ocean. Furthermore, this study carries significant implications for the local marine ecosystem, coastal communities, and Sri Lanka's broader environmental policies and practices.
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Abundance of Marine Macrodebris on the northern Coast of Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka
AI summary Read the abstract
A survey of four fish landing sites on Sri Lanka's northern Jaffna coast found extremely high levels of marine plastic debris, dominated by plastic rope, net pieces, weathered fragments, and beverage bottles. Fishing activities were the primary identified source, and all sites were classified as extremely dirty based on standard beach cleanliness indexes.
Evidence of microplastics pollution in coastal beaches and waters in southern Sri Lanka
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Researchers found microplastic pollution along 91 km of coastline in southern Sri Lanka, with 60% of beach sand sites and 70% of surface water sites testing positive, characterizing the polymers, shapes, and colors present across the sampled coastal environments.
Sampling and Analysis of Microplastics in the Coastal Environments of Sri Lanka: Estuaries of the Kelani River to Mahaoya
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Microplastics were found in both beach sediments and coastal seawater along 42 kilometers of Sri Lanka's western coastline, with polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene being the most common types. The results document significant plastic contamination along the coast of a densely populated South Asian nation, raising concerns about exposure for coastal communities and marine life in the Indian Ocean region.
Sampling and Analysis of Microplastics in the Coastal Environments of Sri Lanka: Estuaries of Kelani River to Mahaoya
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Microplastic abundance and types were quantified in beach sediments and seawater across nine sites along 42 km of Sri Lanka's western coast, documenting widespread contamination in estuarine and coastal environments.
Initial examination of marine microplastics along Jaffna Peninsula’s coastal stretch in the Palk Strait, northern Sri Lanka
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Researchers conducted the first quantitative study of marine microplastic pollution along the coastal stretch of the Jaffna Peninsula in northern Sri Lanka, sampling sediments and water in the Palk Strait to characterize particle abundance, morphology, and polymer types. The study found measurable microplastic contamination across sampled sites, extending the geographic understanding of microplastic distribution in South Asian coastal waters.
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