Riverine plastic pollution from fisheries: Insights from the Ganges River system

Nelms, Sarah E.; Duncan, Emily M.; Patel, Surshti; Badola, Ruchi; Bhola, Sunanda; Chakma, Surfarsha; Chowdhury, Gawsia Wahidunnessa; Godley, Brendan J.; Haque, Alifa Bintha; Johnson, Jeyaraj Antony; Khatoon, Hina; Kumar, Sumit; Napper, Imogen E.; Niloy, Md. Nazmul Hasan; Akter, Tahmina; Badola, Srishti; Dev, Aditi; Rawat, Shaurya; Santillo, David; Sarker, Subrata; Sharma, Ekta; Koldewey, Heather J.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143305

Cited by 93 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…In contrast to other studies on this life stage, samples from the Indian Ocean were dominated by filamentous pieces that were green and blue in colour and were polyethylene, polypropylene and nylon in composition. One of the key sources of marine debris in this area, and indeed in similar studies of turtles in Northern Australia, is that of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) often comprised of plastic fibres (Kiessling et al, 2003;Gunn et al, 2010;Wilcox et al, 2013;Van Der Mheen et al, 2020;Nelms et al, 2021;Pattiaratchi et al, 2021). Evidence from regionally relevant riverine inputs show polyethylene, polypropylene and nylon fishing gear can contribute to ALDFG in the environment (Nelms et al, 2021).This ghost gear has the capacity to breakdown into bioavailable pieces following long-term degradation (Cole et al, 2011;Jâms et al, 2020).…”

Section: Plastic Ingestion In Post-hatchling Marine Turtlesmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…One of the key sources of marine debris in this area, and indeed in similar studies of turtles in Northern Australia, is that of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) often comprised of plastic fibres (Kiessling et al, 2003;Gunn et al, 2010;Wilcox et al, 2013;Van Der Mheen et al, 2020;Nelms et al, 2021;Pattiaratchi et al, 2021). Evidence from regionally relevant riverine inputs show polyethylene, polypropylene and nylon fishing gear can contribute to ALDFG in the environment (Nelms et al, 2021).This ghost gear has the capacity to breakdown into bioavailable pieces following long-term degradation (Cole et al, 2011;Jâms et al, 2020). Juvenile turtles are known to seek refuge under rafts of sargassum and other floating debris (Witherington et al, 2012) which may increase their chances of consuming rope fibres if foraged food is attached to drifting ALDFG.…”

Section: Plastic Ingestion In Post-hatchling Marine Turtlesmentioning

confidence: 96%

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Plastic Pollution and Small Juvenile Marine Turtles: A Potential Evolutionary Trap

et al. 2021

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The ingestion of plastic by marine turtles is now reported for all species. Small juvenile turtles (including post-hatchling and oceanic juveniles) are thought to be most at risk, due to feeding preferences and overlap with areas of high plastic abundance. Their remote and dispersed life stage, however, results in limited access and assessments. Here, stranded and bycaught specimens from Queensland Australia, Pacific Ocean (PO; n = 65; 1993–2019) and Western Australia, Indian Ocean (IO; n = 56; 2015–2019) provide a unique opportunity to assess the extent of plastic (> 1mm) ingestion in five species [green (Chelonia mydas), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), and flatback turtles (Natator depressus)]. In the Pacific Ocean, high incidence of ingestion occurred in green (83%; n = 36), loggerhead (86%; n = 7), flatback (80%; n = 10) and olive ridley turtles (29%; n = 7). There was an overall lower incidence in IO; highest being in the flatback (28%; n = 18), the loggerhead (21%; n = 14) and green (9%; n = 22). No macroplastic debris ingestion was documented for hawksbill turtles in either site although sample sizes were smaller for this species (PO n = 5; IO n = 2). In the Pacific Ocean, the majority of ingested debris was made up of hard fragments (mean of all species 52%; species averages 46–97%), whereas for the Indian Ocean these were filamentous plastics (52%; 43–77%). The most abundant colour for both sites across all species was clear (PO: 36%; IO: 39%), followed by white for PO (36%) then green and blue for IO (16%; 16%). The polymers most commonly ingested by turtles in both oceans were polyethylene (PE; PO-58%; IO-39%) and polypropylene (PP; PO-20.2%; IO-23.5%). We frame the high occurrence of ingested plastic present in this marine turtle life stage as a potential evolutionary trap as they undertake their development in what are now some of the most polluted areas of the global oceans.

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Section: Plastic Ingestion In Post-hatchling Marine Turtlesmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Plastic Ingestion In Post-hatchling Marine Turtlesmentioning

confidence: 96%

Plastic Pollution and Small Juvenile Marine Turtles: A Potential Evolutionary Trap

et al. 2021

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“…They noted the critical role of reefs to the livelihoods of fishing communities, recommending management, debris reduction or elimination, monitoring, research, reduced fishing, gear maintenance, reef demarcation, outreach about ghost gear, removal and recycling of debris, education, aquaculture, artificial reefs, and solid waste management in nearby cities to alleviate the problem [51]. Focusing on abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) along the length of the Ganga, Nelms et al found 701 pieces of gear, including string (41%), net (40%), rope (10%), float (8%) and line (0.4%) for an average density of 0.013 (±0.038) items/m 2 [52]. The results indicated gear is not used for long; good disposal procedures do not exist; and regulations may be inadequate [52].…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Empowering Local Practitioners to Collect and Report on Anthropogenic Riverine and Marine Debris Using Inexpensive Methods in India

et al. 2022

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This article includes a review of the literature on marine debris in an Indian context and introduces a replicable, scientific, and inexpensive collection method to build capacity and inform policymakers. We share baseline data resulting from ten cleanups using these methods in India. This method was introduced in a 2019 workshop to train Indian researchers, leading to local-led collections in three states and two Union Territories (8 beaches, 2 riversides) yielding 33,474 individual pieces of debris weighing a total of 599.15 kg. Plastic was the most frequently found material at all ten collection sites, comprising from 45% to 89% of all items found. The research establishes a baseline data collection at ten locations, with debris density at sites ranging from 0.38–3.86 items/m2. Application of the Clean Coast Index yields resulting rankings of moderate (1 site), dirty (2 sites), and extremely dirty (7 sites). Researchers also identified 2461 brands in analysis at six sites, 76% of which were Indian in origin. Replication of the methods in other Indian regions among the community of thirty-three practitioners was below target for collection (41%) and brand audit (8.3%) with 25% of teams sharing data with the community of practitioners and 12.5% sharing results with local policymakers. The analysis indicates debris is overwhelmingly composed of plastic from residential activities. The methods empower practitioners to collect and report on debris, ground-truthing global debris estimates, and illuminating the missing plastic problem.

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“…The Bay of Bengal receives most plastic waste from rivers, with the Brahmaputra, Ganges, Vaippar, Vaigai, and Irrawaddy among the top 10 rivers with the highest annual riverine plastic outflows to oceans [195]. Besides domestic plastic waste, fishing gear is an important source of large river systems such as the Ganges River system [199]. Villages reliant on fishing activities must be further examined as macroplastic pollution sources for nearby river systems and to examine the impact on freshwater biodiversity [200].…”

Section: Macroplastic Pollution Of Freshwater Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plastic Pollution, Waste Management Issues, and Circular Economy Opportunities in Rural Communities

et al. 2021

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Rural areas are exposed to severe environmental pollution issues fed by industrial and agricultural activities combined with poor waste and sanitation management practices, struggling to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in line with Agenda 2030. Rural communities are examined through a “dual approach” as both contributors and receivers of plastic pollution leakage into the natural environment (through the air–water–soil–biota nexus). Despite the emerging trend of plastic pollution research, in this paper, we identify few studies investigating rural communities. Therefore, proxy analysis of peer-reviewed literature is required to outline the significant gaps related to plastic pollution and plastic waste management issues in rural regions. This work focuses on key stages such as (i) plastic pollution effects on rural communities, (ii) plastic pollution generated by rural communities, (iii) the development of a rural waste management sector in low- and middle-income countries in line with the SDGs, and (iv) circular economy opportunities to reduce plastic pollution in rural areas. We conclude that rural communities must be involved in both future plastic pollution and circular economy research to help decision makers reduce environmental and public health threats, and to catalyze circular initiatives in rural areas around the world, including less developed communities.

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Riverine plastic pollution from fisheries: Insights from the Ganges River system

Cited by 93 publications

References 60 publications

Plastic Pollution and Small Juvenile Marine Turtles: A Potential Evolutionary Trap

Plastic Pollution and Small Juvenile Marine Turtles: A Potential Evolutionary Trap

Empowering Local Practitioners to Collect and Report on Anthropogenic Riverine and Marine Debris Using Inexpensive Methods in India

Plastic Pollution, Waste Management Issues, and Circular Economy Opportunities in Rural Communities

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