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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to The generation of marine litter in Mediterranean island beaches as an effect of tourism and its mitigation
ClearThe generation of marine litter in Mediterranean island beaches as an effect of tourism and its mitigation
Researchers measured marine litter accumulation on Mediterranean island beaches and found that during peak tourist season, litter builds up nearly five times faster — amounting to an estimated 40 million items per day across all regional islands. Pilot cleanup and waste-reduction actions during high-season reduced litter by up to 52%, demonstrating that targeted interventions can meaningfully cut plastic pollution entering the sea.
Assessment of beach litter pollution in Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco: a study of macro and meso-litter on Mediterranean beaches
Researchers surveyed 37 Mediterranean beaches in Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia for plastic litter, finding that urban and tourist beaches were most heavily polluted, with macro-litter averaging over 5,000 pieces per 100 meters. The study also developed a faster, cost-effective monitoring method and concluded that beach cleaning alone cannot solve the problem — better waste management and public awareness are essential.
Short-term tourism alters abundance, size, and composition of microplastics on sandy beaches
Researchers sampled microplastics on nine sandy beaches along the Turkish Black Sea coast before and after the tourism season and found that tourist activity significantly increased microplastic abundance, altered size distributions, and changed polymer composition. The results provide direct field evidence that recreational beach use is a local source of microplastic pollution.
Perception and Awareness of Marine Plastic Pollution in Selected Tourism Beaches of Barobo, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
Researchers surveyed marine plastic litter on four tourism beaches in the Philippines and assessed local perceptions of marine pollution among beach visitors, finding significant litter accumulation that tourism management practices have failed to control. The study links beach litter levels to tourism activities and highlights the need for integrated coastal management.
Changes in (micro and macro) plastic pollution in the sediment of three sandy beaches in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, in relation to seasonality, beach use and granulometry
Researchers measured plastic and microplastic pollution in sediment from three Mediterranean beaches across seasons, finding that smaller microplastics accumulate at the backshore while larger items concentrate near the waterline. Seasonal patterns and beach use intensity affected plastic abundance, with implications for beach management and cleanup strategies.
Changes in Sources and Composition of Beach Waste in Coastal Cities around the Bohai Sea of China during the Tourist Peak and Off-Peak Seasons
Researchers surveyed beach waste across twenty beaches in thirteen cities around China's Bohai Sea during tourist peak and off-peak seasons, finding large quantities of plastic-dominated waste with significant seasonal variation linked to tourism and local activities.
Spatio-temporal variation and ecological risk assessment of microplastics along the touristic beaches of a mediterranean coast transect (Valencia province, East Spain)
Researchers sampled microplastics from seven tourist beaches along Spain's Valencia coast in both winter and summer and found contamination levels nearly five times higher during the summer tourism season. Fibers were the most common type of microplastic, and polyethylene and halogenated polystyrene from food packaging were the dominant polymers identified. The study raises questions about whether current beach cleaning practices are sufficient to address microplastic pollution.
Spatial distribution of macro- and micro-litter items along rocky and sandy beaches of a Marine Protected Area in the western Mediterranean Sea
Macro- and micro-litter were mapped across rocky and sandy beaches within a marine protected area in the Balearic Islands, finding a mean macrolitter concentration of about 1.9 items per square meter and widespread microplastic presence in sandy sediments. Plastic fragments and films were the dominant litter categories, highlighting recreational pressure even in protected coastal areas.
Interdependence in Coastal Tourist Territories between Marine Litter and Immediate Tourist Zoning Density: Methodological Approach for Urban Sustainable Development
This study analyzed the relationship between coastal tourism development intensity and the amount of marine litter found on beaches in Tenerife, Canary Islands. While it touches on marine debris broadly, its primary focus is on land-use planning and tourism zoning rather than microplastic pollution specifically. The connection to microplastics is indirect, as marine litter is a precursor to microplastic generation through degradation.
The impact of tourism on marine litter pollution on Santa Marta beaches, Colombian Caribbean
Tourism significantly increased litter pollution on beaches in Santa Marta, Colombia, with plastics making up 30-77% of macroplastic waste and microplastics ranging from 1 to 355 items per square meter during peak tourist season. Local residents identified tourism as the primary source, highlighting the need for better waste management and public education at coastal destinations.
Difference between invasive alien and native vegetation in trapping beach litter: A focus on a typical sandy beach of W-Mediterranean Basin
Beach litter surveys on a Mediterranean sandy beach found that plastic dominated all litter categories, with habitat type affecting distribution patterns, and areas invaded by Carpobrotus acinaciformis trapping more litter than native vegetation plots.
Microplastics in sandy beaches of Thermaikos Gulf: quantification and spatial distribution
Researchers quantified microplastic pollution along eight locations in the Thermaikos Gulf coast, finding the highest concentrations in tourist-heavy areas, with fibers more prevalent near fishing activity and the midlittoral zone showing the greatest accumulation due to hydrodynamic deposition patterns.
Linking the Tourism Activity to the Occurrence and Distribution of Microplastics
Researchers assessed microplastic abundance, type, and spatial distribution in coastal water, sediments, and fish across three zones of Gili Trawangan, Indonesia, finding that tourism-related activities concentrated microplastics at recreational beaches with concentrations reaching 19.25 particles/L.
Cigarette butt pollution in popular beaches of Morocco: Abundance, distribution, and mitigation measures
This study surveyed cigarette butt pollution on eleven Moroccan Mediterranean beaches from 2018 to 2023, finding cigarette butts were the most common type of litter. Pollution levels varied by beach type, season, and visitor density, highlighting the need for targeted local action against this major source of plastic waste.
What, where, and when: Spatial-temporal distribution of macro-litter on the seafloor of the western and central Mediterranean sea
Using fishery-independent monitoring data from the western Mediterranean, this study characterized the spatial and temporal distribution of macro-litter on the seafloor, identifying accumulation hotspots to guide marine litter management efforts.
First full investigation of levels of microplastics on sandy beaches in Malta
This study conducted the first comprehensive survey of microplastic levels on sandy beaches in Malta, finding microplastics at all five sampled beaches including in protected coastal areas. The results establish baseline contamination levels for the central Mediterranean and document seasonal and spatial variability.
Oceanographic and anthropogenic variables driving marine litter distribution in Mediterranean protected areas: Extensive field data supported by forecasting modelling
Researchers conducted comprehensive surveys of floating macro- and microlitter in two Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas using an innovative multilevel experimental design combined with predictive modeling. Both oceanographic factors and anthropogenic pressures influenced litter distribution, with predictive models identifying accumulation hotspots within the protected areas.
Beached microplastics in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea
Researchers investigated microplastic occurrence on two beaches in the Northwestern Mediterranean Gulf of Lion, finding significant concentrations of fragments and pellets in beach sediments with notable variation between beach zones and sampling periods over a one-month interval.
Tackling Single-Use-Plastic in small touristic islands to reduce marine litter: co-identifying the best mix of policy interventions
Not relevant to microplastics — this study uses participatory stakeholder methods to design policy strategies for reducing single-use plastic waste in the tourism sector on small Greek islands, focused on upstream prevention rather than microplastic science.
Marine litter in sediments related to ecological features in impacted sites and marine protected areas (Croatia)
Researchers found that marine litter including microplastics was present in shallow sediments across Croatian Adriatic sites, with tourism-stressed areas showing higher contamination levels than marine protected areas, highlighting the influence of human pressure on plastic accumulation.
Investigating the Role of Tourists and Impact of Knowledge, Behaviour, and Attitude Towards Plastic Waste Generation
Researchers surveyed tourists to assess how their knowledge, attitudes, and behavior influence plastic waste generation at outdoor recreation sites, finding that awareness gaps drive littering and that circular economy approaches could convert tourist-generated waste into local economic opportunity.
Characteristics of Marine Litters in the West Coast of Bali
This study characterized marine debris on the beach at Kuta, Bali — one of the world's most visited tourist destinations — documenting the types, quantities, and seasonal patterns of litter with plastic dominating the waste stream. The findings highlight how tourist beach management and upstream waste infrastructure failures combine to create a major marine litter problem.
Assessment of Marine Litter in the Coralligenous Habitat of a Marine Protected Area along the Ionian Coast of Sicily (Central Mediterranean)
Researchers assessed the extent of marine litter in a coralligenous habitat within a Mediterranean Marine Protected Area, finding significant debris accumulation even in this protected zone. The findings highlight that MPA status alone is insufficient to prevent plastic pollution in sensitive benthic ecosystems.
Assessment of microplastics distribution and stratification in the shallow marine sediments of Samos island, Eastern Mediterranean sea, Greece
Researchers surveyed microplastic distribution in shallow marine sediments around Samos Island, Greece, finding the highest concentrations on beaches and lower levels in deeper offshore sediments. The study suggests that beaches act as accumulation zones for microplastic pollution carried from land.