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A study on transboundary governance of marine plastic debris—the case of an adjacent waters between China and Taiwan
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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.
More Papers Like This
A Study on Transboundary Governance of Marine Plastic Debris—the Case of an Adjacent Waters between China and Taiwan
AI summary Read the abstract
This study constructed a transboundary marine governance mechanism for the Kinmen-Xiamen Waters between China and Taiwan using literature review, field surveys, interviews, and expert opinion surveys. Monsoons, ocean currents, and tides were identified as the primary factors transporting marine plastic debris from the Xiamen Sea to Kinmen beaches, where plastic, bamboo, and wood are the dominant debris types. The study proposes a cross-jurisdictional governance framework to address shared marine plastic pollution affecting coastal ecosystems and rare wildlife including horseshoe crabs and Indo-Pacific dolphins.
From fragmentation to collaboration: a study on collaborative governance of marine microplastic pollution in the Fujian-Taiwan region
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Microplastic pollution in ocean waters near China and Taiwan is a shared problem, but the two governments have very different approaches to environmental rules, which has made it hard to tackle the issue together. This study proposes a step-by-step framework for getting both sides to collaborate despite their political differences—an important piece of the puzzle since microplastics in seawater can end up in the seafood we eat and have been linked to potential health concerns still being studied. While this paper focuses on policy solutions rather than health effects directly, better cross-border cooperation could mean cleaner oceans and safer seafood for everyone in the region.
Microplastics in the Taiwan Strait and adjacent sea: Spatial variations and lateral transport
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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
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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
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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.
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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.