Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Marine Plastic Littering: a Review of Socio Economic Impacts

This review assessed the socioeconomic impacts of marine plastic litter, covering effects on tourism, fisheries, shipping, and coastal community well-being, and finding that annual economic costs run into the billions of dollars globally, with developing coastal nations bearing disproportionate burdens.

2021 Journal of Sustainability Science and Management 31 citations
Article Tier 2

A Cross Disciplinary Framework for Cost-Benefit Optimization of Marine Litter Cleanup at Regional Scale

This paper presents a cost-benefit framework for prioritizing where and how to clean up marine litter at regional scale. The framework considers factors like litter type, removal cost, ecological damage, and population exposure. Better economic tools for prioritizing cleanup could help direct limited resources toward areas where marine plastic removal has the greatest benefit.

2021 Frontiers in Marine Science 10 citations
Article Tier 2

The Costs of Environmental Degradation from Plastic Pollution in Selected Coastal Areas in the United Republic of Tanzania: Technical Report

This technical report quantified the economic costs of plastic pollution-related environmental degradation in selected coastal areas of Tanzania, estimating damage to fisheries, tourism, and coastal ecosystems to provide evidence for policy interventions on plastic waste management.

2023 World Bank eBooks 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Netting the problem: a comprehensive analysis of marine litter on artisanal fishers

A systematic global review found that while marine litter's ecological impacts are well-documented, research on its socioeconomic effects on artisanal fishing communities is sparse—revealing significant financial losses, gear damage, and safety risks that disproportionately affect small-scale fishers.

2025 Frontiers in Ocean Sustainability 2 citations
Article Tier 2

An Overview of the Current Trends in Marine Plastic Litter Management for a Sustainable Development

This review summarizes current knowledge about marine plastic litter, from its land-based origins to its distribution across ocean environments, and evaluates recovery and recycling strategies. Researchers found that while technologies for collecting and recycling marine plastics are advancing, significant economic and logistical barriers remain. The study emphasizes that a circular economy approach, combining prevention, collection, and material recovery, is essential for addressing ocean plastic pollution.

2024 Recycling 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Marine debris: A review of impacts and global initiatives

This review provides a comprehensive overview of marine debris and its environmental, economic, and social impacts worldwide. Researchers found that plastics represent 50 to 90 percent of all marine debris, with millions of metric tonnes entering the oceans annually. The study surveys global policy initiatives aimed at reducing marine litter and identifies the need for more coordinated international action to address this pervasive pollution problem.

2019 Waste Management & Research The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy 226 citations
Article Tier 2

Fishing for Litter: Creating an Economic Market for Marine Plastics in a Sustainable Fisheries Model

Researchers developed a dynamic economic optimization model to examine how marine litter creates inefficiencies in the fisheries sector, showing that when the negative externality of marine litter is ignored, fish harvest increases while ocean quality deteriorates. The study explored a hypothetical 'fishing-for-litter' market mechanism as an incentive scheme that could align fishermen's economic interests with marine litter removal.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Marine Litter: Solutions for a Major Environmental Problem

This paper reviews the sources, distribution, and impacts of marine litter — primarily plastics — on beaches and oceans, and surveys proposed solutions ranging from improved waste management to policy interventions and cleanup technologies. It provides a broad overview of the challenge of reducing plastic pollution at a global scale.

2019 Journal of Coastal Research 196 citations
Article Tier 2

Comments on marine litter in oceans, seas and beaches: Characteristics and impacts

This review examines the characteristics, sources, and ecological and economic impacts of marine litter across shorelines, pelagic zones, and benthic habitats globally, noting that approximately 80% of marine litter originates from land-based sources. Researchers discuss how marine litter degrades into microplastics over time and threatens both biodiversity and coastal tourism economies.

2015 Arrow@dit (Dublin Institute of Technology) 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Marine debris: A review of impacts and global initiatives

This review summarizes the global scale and impacts of marine debris, covering five main material categories and reviewing international cleanup and prevention initiatives. It highlights that plastic debris dominates marine litter and threatens wildlife, fisheries, and coastal communities.

2019 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Impacts of marine plastic on ecosystem services and economy: State of South African research

A review of South African research on the economic costs of marine plastic debris found significant knowledge gaps, with only limited data on impacts to recreation and tourism and almost no data on fisheries, biodiversity, transport, or cultural values. The authors call for more economic research to support evidence-based plastic waste policy.

2020 South African Journal of Science 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Impacts and Threats of Marine Litter in African Seas

This review examines the impacts of marine litter — with a focus on plastic pollution — on the ecosystems, economies, and communities of coastal African nations, drawing on global data to infer likely impacts where African-specific research is scarce.

2022 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Explore the Impact of Marine Plastic Pollution and Countermeasures

This paper reviewed the scope of marine plastic pollution, its distribution across ocean ecosystems, and its socioeconomic effects on coastal communities, finding that existing international agreements and waste management efforts remain insufficient to address the scale of the problem.

2025 MATEC Web of Conferences
Article Tier 2

Plastics pollution: pathways, impacts, and regulatory challenges in marine environments

This review synthesizes research on microplastic pollution across the world's oceans, covering sources from land-based activities, rivers, fishing, and aquaculture. Researchers found that polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene account for over 60% of recovered ocean microplastics and that these particles affect organisms from single-celled life to large marine animals. The estimated economic losses from microplastic damage to marine ecosystem services range from 1.18 to 2.16 trillion USD, roughly 2% of global GDP.

2025 Frontiers in Environmental Science 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics pollution: Economic loss and actions needed

This study highlights the economic costs associated with microplastic pollution and its threats to both environmental and human health. The researchers argue that governments should implement policies aligned with global resolutions to end plastic pollution, emphasizing the need for coordinated action to address the growing economic and ecological burden of microplastic contamination.

2023 Eco-Environment & Health 26 citations
Article Tier 2

The generation of marine litter in Mediterranean island beaches as an effect of tourism and its mitigation

This study examined how tourism drives marine litter accumulation on Mediterranean island beaches, finding that tourist season dramatically increases litter loads. The authors evaluated mitigation strategies and found that active beach cleaning combined with visitor education can significantly reduce plastic accumulation in these heavily visited coastal ecosystems.

2021 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Marine Debris Composition and Abundance: A Case Study of Selected Coastlines in Ujong Karang, Meulaboh, West Aceh

Researchers assessed the composition, characteristics, and abundance of marine debris on two economically active coastlines in West Aceh, Indonesia, comparing a fishing-adjacent beach and a tourism beach to characterize plastic and other waste accumulation patterns in relation to coastal land use activities.

2024 Journal of Coastal and Ocean Sciences
Article Tier 2

Tobacco industry accountability for marine pollution: country and global estimates

This analysis estimates the financial and ecological costs of cigarette filter plastic pollution in marine environments country by country, arguing that these costs should be attributed to and paid by the tobacco industry. Cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate microplastic fibers — one of the most abundant microplastic types on beaches globally — making tobacco industry accountability a concrete policy lever for reducing a major, preventable source of plastic ocean pollution.

2023 Tobacco Control 8 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Coastal plastic pollution: A global perspective

Researchers conducted a systematic review of 689 studies on coastal plastic pollution, finding that plastic bottles and cigarette butts dominate beach debris, polyethylene is the most common polymer, and white microplastic fragments are especially prevalent, with China and Brazil leading in research output.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Potensi pariwisata dan penanggulangan marine debris di kawasan pesisir Kabupaten Pangandaran

This Indonesian-language study evaluates the tourism potential and marine debris management challenges in the coastal area of Pangandaran, Indonesia. The research highlights that marine debris, including plastic waste, threatens both the ecosystem and the economic value of coastal tourism.

2023 Jurnal Ilmu Kelautan Kepulauan 1 citations
Article Tier 2

A Review on the Impact of Plastic Debris on Marine Environment

This review summarizes the types, sources, and impacts of plastic debris in marine environments, covering both macro- and microplastics and their effects on marine biodiversity. The paper also discusses global initiatives and policy frameworks aimed at reducing marine plastic pollution.

2021 Modern Concepts in Material Science 6 citations
Article Tier 2

A Survey of Marine Coastal Litters around Zhoushan Island, China and Their Impacts

Researchers surveyed marine litter around a Chinese island using stratified sampling across different beach types and found plastic dominating the debris. Local fishermen and tourists expressed willingness to reduce littering with appropriate incentives, highlighting the role of public engagement in coastal plastic management.

2021 Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Regional management options for floating marine litter in coastal waters from a life cycle assessment perspective

A life cycle assessment evaluated regional management options for floating marine litter in coastal waters, comparing collection, prevention, and disposal strategies to identify the most environmentally favorable approaches for marine litter governance.

2023 The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Sebaran Sampah Pantai di Pulau Timor, Nusa Tenggara Timur: Kajian pada Pantai Rekreasi

Indonesian researchers surveyed beach debris distribution on six tourism beaches in Timor Island, finding plastic as the dominant litter type. The study provides baseline data needed to manage coastal plastic pollution at a local level and protect both the environment and the tourism economy.

2021 Jurnal Wilayah dan Lingkungan 11 citations