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Characteristics and Distribution of Marine Macro-Litter Along the Coast of Ambon Bay
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Researchers surveyed beaches around Ambon Bay in Indonesia and found that plastic makes up the vast majority of the trash washing ashore, with some spots (like Poka) far more polluted than others. This matters because plastic waste that piles up on coastlines gradually breaks down into microplastics, which can enter seafood and drinking water — meaning where and how much plastic accumulates on shorelines is an early warning sign for pollution that could eventually affect the food we eat.
Marine debris has become a major environmental concern in coastal areas, particularly in semi-enclosed waters such as Ambon Bay. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of macro marine debris based on material composition, quantity, mass, and density across four coastal monitoring stations in Ambon Bay. Field surveys were conducted in December 2025 using the shoreline transect method in accordance with the national marine debris monitoring guidelines. Macro debris larger than 2.5 cm was collected, classified by material type, counted, and weighed. Variations in material composition were assessed using the Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H'), while differences in debris mass among stations were analyzed using the non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis test. The results showed that plastic was the dominant material at all stations, resulting in low material diversity. Significant spatial differences in macro marine debris mass were also observed among the stations, with Poka exhibiting the highest debris accumulation, whereas Lateri showed a relatively more diverse material composition than the other stations. These findings indicate that the characteristics of macro marine debris vary spatially across Ambon Bay, highlighting the need for site-specific management strategies to support more effective coastal marine debris control
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.