We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
A study on transboundary governance of marine plastic debris—the case of an adjacent waters between China and Taiwan
Summary
Researchers investigated marine debris governance in the Kinmen-Xiamen transboundary waters between China and Taiwan, finding that monsoons, ocean currents, and tides are the primary drivers of debris drift. Marine plastic debris, bamboo, and wood were the dominant waste types, affecting species including the horseshoe crab and Indo-Pacific dolphin.
This study aimed to construct a transboundary marine governance mechanism in the Kinmen-Xiamen waters through literature review, field survey, in-depth interview, and expert opinion survey. The study finds that monsoons, ocean currents, and tides are the main factors affecting the drift of marine debris in the Xiamen Sea area to the beaches of Kinmen. The marine debris mainly included marine plastic debris (MPD), bamboo, and wood in Kinmen and was documented impacting a variety of species, including the horseshoe crab to marine mammals the IndoPacific dolphin. In addition, the problem of marine micro-plastic pollution is becoming increasingly worrisome and hazardous to rare creatures in the Xiamen Sea area. The pollution sources of MPD in Xiamen Bay included coastal tourism activities, micro-plastic discharged from sewage treatment plants, plastic waste produced by lost and discarded marine aquaculture, and plastic drifting terrestrial waste transported from the Jiulong River Basin. Our results show that microplastic pollution in the Kinmen-Xiamen waters may have a greater impact on marine ecology and the surrounding environment. The relevant transboundary marine governance mechanisms are discussed in this study.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in the Taiwan Strait and adjacent sea: Spatial variations and lateral transport
Researchers sampled microplastics from both surface water and seafloor sediments across the Taiwan Strait and surrounding seas, finding average concentrations of 174 particles per cubic meter in water and 121 particles per kilogram in sediment. Polyester and rayon fibers dominated, pointing to domestic wastewater and the synthetic textile industry as primary sources. The study helps map microplastic distribution in a heavily trafficked and economically important sea corridor, where currents spread contamination across national boundaries.
Microplastics in seawater and two sides of the Taiwan Strait: Reflection of the social-economic development
Researchers surveyed microplastic abundance in surface seawater and coastal sediments on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, finding differences in contamination levels that reflected contrasting levels of industrialization and urban development on the Chinese mainland versus Taiwan sides.
Marine microplastics in the surface waters of “pristine” Kuroshio
Researchers found microplastic concentrations in Taiwan's coastal waters and the Kuroshio current averaging 0.05 items/m³, with polypropylene and polyethylene dominating, and identified hotspots suggesting rivers and local currents transport plastics into the North Pacific Gyre.
Taking a mass-balance approach to assess marine plastics in the South China Sea
Researchers applied a mass-balance modeling approach to assess marine plastic pollution in the South China Sea, finding critical data gaps on plastic inputs, transfer rates, and sink terms that prevent accurate quantification of this recognized global plastic hotspot.
Microplastic pollution of the Tamsui River and its tributaries in northern Taiwan: Spatial heterogeneity and correlation with precipitation
Researchers investigated microplastic pollution in the Tamsui River and its tributaries in northern Taiwan, collecting samples over three months. They found microplastics in every sample, with concentrations varying widely between rivers, from 2.5 to 83.7 particles per cubic meter. The study found a positive correlation between rainfall and microplastic abundance, suggesting that precipitation washes plastic debris from land into waterways.