Drifting Impact: A Comprehensive Review of Floating Debris

Floating debris (FD), encompassing both woody and anthropogenic materials, disrupts fishway hydraulics and ecological efficiency. Despite frequent usage in scientific literature, the term remains ambiguous. Motivated by the need to enhance fishway performance, this study examines the concept of FD. A substantial review of environmental, economic, and safety impacts was conducted, focusing on marine debris, microplastics, and woody debris. Additionally, a systematic analysis of 560 articles published from 2018 to 2023 assessed how FD is described across diverse contexts. Through an elimination process, 55 papers underwent detailed manual analysis. FD was categorized into natural floating debris (NFD) and anthropogenic floating debris (AFD), a distinction crucial for engineering and scientific applications. This classification supports fishway management by facilitating the identification and monitoring of debris accumulation, thus enabling strategies to mitigate hydraulic and ecological consequences. While FD poses risks such as habitat disruption and pollutant bioaccumulation, natural FD also provides potential ecological benefits, including habitat creation. To address these challenges, the study advocates innovative waste management strategies informed by concepts like the doughnut economy and ecological economics. These approaches aim to reconcile ecological sustainability with economic activities, reducing anthropogenic FD while leveraging the advantages of NFD.