Baseline Marine Litter Surveys along Vietnam Coasts Using Citizen Science Approach

Thu-Trang T. Nguyen, Ngan-Ha Ha, Thanh-Khiet L. Bui, Kieu Lan Phuong Nguyen, Diem-Phuc T. Tran, Hong Quan Nguyen, Ashraf El-Arini, Qamar Schuyler and Thu Thi Le Nguyen
Additional contact information
Thu-Trang T. Nguyen: Center for Supporting Green Development GreenHub, Hanoi City 10000, Vietnam
Ngan-Ha Ha: Center for Supporting Green Development GreenHub, Hanoi City 10000, Vietnam
Thanh-Khiet L. Bui: Institute for Circular Economy Development, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
Kieu Lan Phuong Nguyen: Institute for Circular Economy Development, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
Diem-Phuc T. Tran: Institute for Circular Economy Development, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
Hong Quan Nguyen: Institute for Circular Economy Development, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
Ashraf El-Arini: Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy, The World Bank, 10 Marina Blvd, Singapore 018983, Singapore
Qamar Schuyler: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Oceans and Atmosphere, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
Thu Thi Le Nguyen: Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy, The World Bank, 63 Ly Thai To, Hanoi City 10000, Vietnam

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: Marine litter is a significant threat to the marine environment, human health, and the economy. In this study, beach litter surveys along Vietnamese coasts were conducted in a local context to quantify and characterize marine litter using the modified GESAMP marine litter monitoring guideline. A total of 21,754 items weighing 136,820.2 g was recorded across 14 surveys from September 2020 to January 2021. Plastic was the most abundant type of litter by both quantity (20,744 items) and weight (100,371.2 g). Fishing gear 1 (fishing plastic rope, net pieces, fishing lures and lines, hard plastic floats) and soft plastic fragments were the most frequently observed items (17.65% and 17.24%, respectively). This study not only demonstrates the abundance and composition of marine litter in Vietnam, it also provides valuable information for the implementation of appropriate preventive measures, such as the redesign of collection, reuse, and recycling programs, and informs policy and priorities, with a focus on action and investment in Vietnam. Moreover, insights from this study indicate that citizen science is a useful approach for collecting data on marine litter in Vietnam.

Keywords: marine litter; plastic pollution; GESAMP guideline; citizen-science; beach monitoring (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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