Quantification and Spatial Distribution of Marine Debris in the Fishing Zones of R. Puthupattinam and Kottaipattinam, Palk Bay, India

Quantification and Spatial Distribution of Marine Debris in the Fishing Zones of R. Puthupattinam and Kottaipattinam, Palk Bay, India | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Quantification and Spatial Distribution of Marine Debris in the Fishing Zones of R. Puthupattinam and Kottaipattinam, Palk Bay, India Sathiya Chinnathambi, Sri Vishnu Prasanth Balachandran Rajkumar, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9625306/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Marine debris is a global environmental concern that affects both marine wildlife and human populations. A baseline survey on marine debris was conducted for the first time at two coastal sites, R. Puthupattinam and Kottaipattinam, in the Palk Bay region, Southeast Coast of India. The study aimed to assess debris type, spatial distribution, quantity, composition (bio degradable and non-bio degradable) and data correlation of marine debris. Marine debris was collected from a fixed sampling area of 300 m² at each site, with five samples collected per location. A total of 759 debris items were recorded at R. Puthupattinam, while 1,410 items were documented at Kottaipattinam. Plastics were identified as the predominant category of debris at both sites. R. Puthupattinam is characterized by relatively minor fishing activity, whereas Kottaipattinam functions as a major fish landing center, which likely contributes to the higher debris load observed at this site. The findings provide a baseline for understanding marine debris pollution in this ecologically and economically important coastal region and offer valuable insights for future coastal management and conservation efforts. Marine debris Sources Distribution Coastal sites Anthropogenic Abundance quantity Palk Bay Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Introduction Marine debris was surveyed at two coastal sites in the Palk Bay region, southeast India. A total of 759 debris items were recorded at R. Puthupattinam, while Kottaipattinam showed a higher load of 1,410 items. Plastics were the most common debris type at both sites, contributing 46.6% at R. Puthupattinam and 42.4% at Kottaipattinam. Glass debris, mainly medicine bottles, was higher at Kottaipattinam, reflecting greater human and fishing activities. Foam, metal, footwear, and fishing-related materials showed site-specific variation. The data provide baseline information for future monitoring and coastal management in the Palk Bay region. Marine debris, also referred to as marine litter, is defined as any persistent, manufactured, or processed solid material discarded, disposed of, or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment [ 1 ]. The primary pathways for debris to enter oceans are land-based, including direct waste discharge and indirect sources such as rivers, beaches, and offshore installations [ 2 ], [ 3 ]. Anthropogenic marine debris (AMD) encompasses all synthetic or processed materials entering the marine environment through riverine systems, waste discharge, and dumping activities [ 4 ], [ 5 ]. AMD accumulates along shorelines but can be transported back to the sea by tidal action, wind, rainfall, storms, and extreme events like hurricanes or tsunamis [ 6 ], [ 7 ]. The quantity and movement of marine litter are influenced by environmental factors such as climate, river inputs, coastal processes, and beach geomorphology [ 8 ], [ 9 ]. Plastics constitute the majority of marine debris, representing 60–80% of total litter, with global plastic production exceeding 350 million tons per year in 2017, half of which are single-use items [ 10 ], [ 11 ]. Approximately 4.8–12.7 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the oceans annually, threatening marine ecosystems and over 700 species of marine organisms [ 12 ]. Marine litter poses risks to human health, with humans ingesting an estimated 39,000–52,000 micro plastics annually through food [ 13 ]. It degrades habitats, facilitates invasive species transport, and negatively impacts benthic organisms [ 14 ], [ 15 ]. Additionally, fishing gear contributes to ocean pollution through entanglement and ghost fishing, affecting over 1,400 species [ 16 ], [ 17 ]. The global and local ecological risks, region-specific assessments of marine debris are critical. The Palk Bay region, despite its ecological and socio-economic importance, lacks comprehensive studies on marine debris. The present study addresses this knowledge gap by providing baseline information on the types, distribution, and abundance of marine debris along selected coastal sites of the Palk Bay. The findings are expected to contribute to a better understanding of marine debris dynamics in the region and to support evidence-based management strategies aimed at mitigating pollution and improving the environmental health of coastal ecosystems. Materials and Methods Study area and Marine debris collection The study was conducted along Palk Bay on the southeast coast of India, covering two coastal locations: Kottaipattinam and R. Puthupattinam. Each location was subdivided into five sampling sites, resulting in a total of ten sampling stations (Figs. 1 & 2 ). At Kottaipattinam, five sites were designated as S1–S5, while at R. Puthupattinam, five sites were designated as S6–S10. At each site, ten transects measuring 300 m in length and 2 m in width were established, covering a fixed sampling area of 300 m² per site. Marine litter items larger than 2.5 cm (macro-debris) were collected from each transect, identified, counted, and recorded in August 2023. The geographic position of each site was recorded using a Global Positioning System (GPS). After classification, litter from each transect was placed in separate bin bags and transported to the laboratory, where the items were washed with tap water to remove adhering sand and soil to avoid measurement inaccuracies. The density of marine litter was calculated using the formula provided [ 18 ] CM = n / (w × l) Where CM represents litter density (items m²), n is the total number of litter items collected, and w and l represent the width and length (m) of the sampling area, respectively (Table 1 ). Table 1 Sampling Locations of Marine Debris Study in Palk Bay S.no Station (site) Site Latitude Latitude Activities Area (m 2 ) 1 Kottaipattinam S − 1 9.5846.25 79.1254 Fishing activity 300 2 S − 2 9.58487 79.1272 Fishing activity 300 3 S − 3 9.58519 79.1211 Fishing activity 300 4 S − 4 9.58563 79.1214 Fishing activity 300 5 S − 5 9.58599 79.1217 Fishing activity 300 6 R. Puthupattinam S – 6 9.5418.33 79.8231 Fishing activity 300 7 S – 7 9.54225 79. 82817 Fishing activity 300 8 S – 8 9.54273 79. 83169 Fishing activity 300 9 S – 9 9.54329 79. 83691 Fishing activity 300 10 S -10 9.54367 79. 84385 Fishing activity 300 Results Site-wise analysis of marine debris distribution The present dataset summarizes the composition and abundance of marine debris collected from two coastal sites, Kottaipattinam and R. Puthupattinam. A total of 1,410 debris items were recorded at Kottaipattinam, while 759 items were documented at R. Puthupattinam, indicating a substantially higher debris load at Kottaipattinam. Across both sites, plastic waste dominated the debris composition, accounting for the largest number of items. Common plastic categories included plastic water bottles, cups, covers, fishing-related materials (nets, floats, and lures), and fragmented plastic pieces. Notably, plastic water bottles (202 items) and plastic cups (119 items) were particularly abundant at Kottaipattinam, whereas plastic pieces (76 items) and shampoo/detergent covers (49 items) were more prominent at R. Puthupattinam. Glass waste was mainly represented by medicine glass items, with a high concentration at Kottaipattinam (264 items) compared to R. Puthupattinam (11 items). Foam debris, especially thermocol, was present at both sites, though slightly higher at Kottaipattinam. Metal, paper, cloth, rubber, wood, and electronic waste were observed in smaller quantities but consistently across both locations. The presence of fishing-related debris and consumer waste reflects the influence of local fishing activities and coastal human usage. Overall, the findings highlight significant spatial variation in debris distribution and emphasize plastics as the predominant pollutant along both coastal sites. Composition of marine debris The pie chart illustrates the composition of marine debris collected across the Palk Bay study sites. Non-biodegradable materials dominated the debris, accounting for 81.6% of the total, while biodegradable debris represented only 18.4%. The predominance of non-biodegradable waste, primarily plastics, highlights the significant anthropogenic pressure on the marine environment and underscores the urgent need for targeted waste management and pollution mitigation strategies in the region. 1. Site wise correlation of marine debris Pearson correlations among ten variables (KP1–KP5, RP1–RP5) from two Palk Bay fishing zones were analyzed. KP2 and KP3 were strongly correlated (r = 0.91), while KP1 showed weak correlations. In the RP group, RP1 & RP4 (r = 0.84) and RP3 & RP4 (r = 0.76) were highly correlated. Cross-group correlations were moderate, with KP5 & RP5 highest (r = 0.67). Overall, KP variables were moderately correlated, RP variables formed a tight cluster, and KP1 was largely independent. Conclusion Conclusion: The present study provides a quantitative assessment of marine debris in the fishing zones of R. Puthupattinam and Kottaipattinam along the Palk Bay coast. A total of 759 debris items were recorded at R. Puthupattinam, whereas a significantly higher load of 1,410 items was observed at Kottaipattinam, indicating spatial variation in debris accumulation between the two sites.At R. Puthupattinam, plastic waste constituted 52.83% of the total debris, followed by paper ( 16.74% ) and cloth ( 11.59% ) , while other categories such as metal (8.04%), rubber (5.14%), foam (1.98%), glass (1.84%), wood (1.45%), and appliances & electronics (0.40%) contributed relatively minor proportions. Similarly, at Kottaipattinam, plastics dominated the composition, accounting for 54.96%, followed by glass ( 19.86% ) , foam (6.67%), paper (6.52%), rubber (4.54%), metal (3.40%), cloth (3.12%), wood (0.57%), and appliances & electronics (0.35%). These findings clearly demonstrate that plastics represent the majority of marine debris at both sites. The variation in total debris load and composition between the two locations reflects differences in local anthropogenic activities such as fishing practices, shoreline utilization, and population pressure. The results further suggest that a significant proportion of the debris originates from land-based sources, indicating inadequate waste management and disposal systems in the coastal region. The predominance of plastic debris poses serious ecological threats to marine life, particularly through ingestion and entanglement. Therefore, effective mitigation measures are urgently required, including the development of improved waste management infrastructure, awareness programs targeting fishers and coastal communities, regular beach clean-up initiatives, retrieval of abandoned fishing gear, and stricter regulation of waste disposal. Implementing these strategies will be essential to reduce marine debris pollution and ensure the sustainability of coastal ecosystems in Palk Bay. Declarations Acknowledgement I sincerely acknowledge the support and encouragement of my colleagues, friends, and family during the preparation and compilation of this data. This work was carried out entirely out of personal interest and motivation. Author contributions Sathiya Chinnathambi: Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Data curation, Formal analysis, Writing – original draft. Sri Vishnu Prasanth Balachandran Rajkumar: Formal analysis, Visualization, Software (mapping), Validation. Lakshmanna Ballari: Writing – review & editing, Supervision. Ahamed Hathil Jabarulla Khan: Investigation (Sample collection), Data curation. Prem Muthukrishnan: Investigation (sample collection). Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Funding No funding Ethics approval and consent to participate Not applicable. Availability of data and materials Data available on request The datasets generated and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Consent for publication Not applicable. References UNEP, 2009. Marine Litter: A Global Challenge . United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi, p. 232. Portman, M.E., Brennan, R.E., 2017. Marine litter from beach-based sources: case study of an Eastern Mediterranean coastal town. Waste Management 69, 535–544. Prevenios, M., Zeri, C., Tsangaris, C., Liubartseva, S., Fakiris, E., Papatheodorou, G., 2018. Beach litter dynamics on Mediterranean coasts: distinguishing sources and pathways. Marine Pollution Bulletin 129 (2), 448–457. OSPAR Commission, 2009. Marine Litter in the North-East Atlantic Region: Assessment and Priorities for Response . OSPAR Commission, London, United Kingdom, p. 127. UNEP, 2011. The Honolulu Strategy: A Global Framework for Prevention and Management of Marine Debris . United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi. Nagelkerken, I., Wiltjer, G.A.M.T., Debrot, A.O., Pors, L.P.J.J., 2001. Baseline study of submerged marine debris at beaches in Curaçao, West Indies. Marine Pollution Bulletin 42, 786–789. Cunningham, D.J., Wilson, S.P., 2003. Marine debris on beaches of the greater Sydney region. Journal of Coastal Research 19, 421–430. Araújo, M.C., Costa, M., 2007. An analysis of the riverine contribution to the solid waste contamination of an isolated beach at the Brazilian northeast. Management of Environmental Quality 18, 6–12. Carson, H.S., Lamson, M.R., Nakashima, D., Toloumu, D., Hafner, J., Maximenko, N., McDermid, K.J., 2013. Tracking the sources and sinks of local marine debris in Hawai‘i. Marine Environmental Research 84, 76–83. Jambeck, J.R., Geyer, R., Wilcox, C., Siegler, T.R., Perryman, M., Andrady, A., Narayan, R., Law, K.L., 2015. Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. Science 347 (6223), 768–771. Gregory, M.R., Ryan, P.G., 1997. Pelagic plastics and other seaborne persistent synthetic debris: a review of southern hemisphere perspectives. In: Coe, J.M., Rogers, D.B. (Eds.), Marine Debris: Sources, Impacts and Solutions . Springer, New York, pp. 49–66. Jenna R. J., R. Geyer, C. Wilcox, T. R. Siegler, M. Perryman, A. Andrady, R. Narayan and K. L. Law. 2015. Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. Science, 347(6223):768–771. Cox, K.D., Covernton, G.A., Davies, H.L., Dower, J.F., Juanes, F., Dudas, S.E., 2019. Human consumption of microplastics. Environmental Science & Technology 53 (12), 7068–7074. Brandon, J.A., Jones, W., Ohman, M.D., 2019. Multidecadal increase in plastic particles in coastal ocean sediments. Science Advances 5 (9), eaax0587. Kiessling, T., Gutow, L., Thiel, M., 2015. Marine litter as habitat and dispersal vector. In: Bergmann, M., Gutow, L., Klages, M. (Eds.), Marine Anthropogenic Litter. Springer, Cham, pp. 141–181. Claro, F., Fossi, M.C., Ioakeimidis, C., Baini, M., Lusher, A.L., McFee, W., McIntosh, R.R., Pelamatti, T., Sorce, M., Galgani, F., 2019. Tools and constraints in monitoring interactions between marine litter and megafauna: insights from case studies around the world. Marine Pollution Bulletin 141, 147–160. Dias, B.F.d.S., 2016. Marine Debris: Understanding, Preventing and Mitigating the Significant Adverse Impacts on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity. CBD Technical Series No. 83, p. 78. Lippiatt S, Opfer S, Arthur C (2013) Marine Debris Monitoring and Assess ment. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS-OR & R-46. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9625306","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":638099005,"identity":"1719291f-c970-48c5-92c8-9cf7413391c4","order_by":0,"name":"Sathiya Chinnathambi","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA8ElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYLACxgYJBgZmhsQHQDYPH1FaDoK0sDM8NgBpYSNSC5DgZ3wmAeIQ1MLfwP7w88cdFon9zcxplV9z7GTYGJgfPrqBR4vEAR5jiYNnJBJnHGZLuy27LRnoMDZj4xw8WgwYeBgkDrZJJDYc5km7LbmNGaiFh00avxb2xz9AWuYf5v9WLLmtnhgtDGZgWzYcZkhj/LjtMGEtEod5zCzOtkkYbzzMkCzNuO04DxszAb/wt7c/vlHZVic77/yBxI8/t1Xb87M3P3yMTwsw0sHAsQHE5kESIQjsQQTjDyJVj4JRMApGwcgCAP6ZRjwJ/2peAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Alagappa University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Sathiya","middleName":"","lastName":"Chinnathambi","suffix":""},{"id":638099006,"identity":"af31325b-fa0c-431f-bf57-60cee56ce84e","order_by":1,"name":"Sri Vishnu Prasanth Balachandran Rajkumar","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Geo Spatial,RK Construction,Salem","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Sri","middleName":"Vishnu Prasanth Balachandran","lastName":"Rajkumar","suffix":""},{"id":638099007,"identity":"afd2d0a0-112c-448c-943c-e10b15131195","order_by":2,"name":"Lakshmanna Ballari","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Yogi Vemana University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Lakshmanna","middleName":"","lastName":"Ballari","suffix":""},{"id":638099008,"identity":"68f626b9-7211-4655-8bcc-ead5d0fbc881","order_by":3,"name":"Prem Muthukrishnan","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Alagappa University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Prem","middleName":"","lastName":"Muthukrishnan","suffix":""},{"id":638099009,"identity":"ab3705e2-ccd1-4e44-8060-c1b513cfb5d2","order_by":4,"name":"Ahamed hathil Jabarulla khan","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Alagappa University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ahamed","middleName":"hathil Jabarulla","lastName":"khan","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-05-06 05:38:54","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9625306/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9625306/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":109077723,"identity":"1ea20a7b-7614-43c5-b2fa-05b0d8d6fa8d","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-05-12 11:10:00","extension":"jpeg","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":673740,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eMap of study area and sampling sites\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage1.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9625306/v1/4c188d288ffb785f63e645d5.jpeg"},{"id":109077325,"identity":"0341f2d4-c3bf-4862-b37b-04c3c918d4a5","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-05-12 11:07:47","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":867661,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSite-wise distribution of marine debris at R. 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Puthupattinam and Kottaipattinam, Palk Bay, India","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMarine debris was surveyed at two coastal sites in the Palk Bay region, southeast India. A total of 759 debris items were recorded at R. Puthupattinam, while Kottaipattinam showed a higher load of 1,410 items. Plastics were the most common debris type at both sites, contributing 46.6% at R. Puthupattinam and 42.4% at Kottaipattinam. Glass debris, mainly medicine bottles, was higher at Kottaipattinam, reflecting greater human and fishing activities. Foam, metal, footwear, and fishing-related materials showed site-specific variation. The data provide baseline information for future monitoring and coastal management in the Palk Bay region.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMarine debris, also referred to as marine litter, is defined as any persistent, manufactured, or processed solid material discarded, disposed of, or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. The primary pathways for debris to enter oceans are land-based, including direct waste discharge and indirect sources such as rivers, beaches, and offshore installations [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e], [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]. Anthropogenic marine debris (AMD) encompasses all synthetic or processed materials entering the marine environment through riverine systems, waste discharge, and dumping activities [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e], [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]. AMD accumulates along shorelines but can be transported back to the sea by tidal action, wind, rainfall, storms, and extreme events like hurricanes or tsunamis [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e], [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe quantity and movement of marine litter are influenced by environmental factors such as climate, river inputs, coastal processes, and beach geomorphology [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e], [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e]. Plastics constitute the majority of marine debris, representing 60\u0026ndash;80% of total litter, with global plastic production exceeding 350\u0026nbsp;million tons per year in 2017, half of which are single-use items [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e], [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e]. Approximately 4.8\u0026ndash;12.7\u0026nbsp;million metric tons of plastic waste enter the oceans annually, threatening marine ecosystems and over 700 species of marine organisms [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMarine litter poses risks to human health, with humans ingesting an estimated 39,000\u0026ndash;52,000 micro plastics annually through food [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e]. It degrades habitats, facilitates invasive species transport, and negatively impacts benthic organisms [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e], [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]. Additionally, fishing gear contributes to ocean pollution through entanglement and ghost fishing, affecting over 1,400 species [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e], [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe global and local ecological risks, region-specific assessments of marine debris are critical. The Palk Bay region, despite its ecological and socio-economic importance, lacks comprehensive studies on marine debris. The present study addresses this knowledge gap by providing baseline information on the types, distribution, and abundance of marine debris along selected coastal sites of the Palk Bay. The findings are expected to contribute to a better understanding of marine debris dynamics in the region and to support evidence-based management strategies aimed at mitigating pollution and improving the environmental health of coastal ecosystems.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Materials and Methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eStudy area and Marine debris collection\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study was conducted along Palk Bay on the southeast coast of India, covering two coastal locations: Kottaipattinam and R. Puthupattinam. Each location was subdivided into five sampling sites, resulting in a total of ten sampling stations (Figs.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e \u0026amp; \u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). At Kottaipattinam, five sites were designated as S1\u0026ndash;S5, while at R. Puthupattinam, five sites were designated as S6\u0026ndash;S10. At each site, ten transects measuring 300 m in length and 2 m in width were established, covering a fixed sampling area of 300 m\u0026sup2; per site. Marine litter items larger than 2.5 cm (macro-debris) were collected from each transect, identified, counted, and recorded in August 2023. The geographic position of each site was recorded using a Global Positioning System (GPS). After classification, litter from each transect was placed in separate bin bags and transported to the laboratory, where the items were washed with tap water to remove adhering sand and soil to avoid measurement inaccuracies.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe density of marine litter was calculated using the formula provided [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCM\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;n / (w \u0026times; l)\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhere CM represents litter density (items m\u0026sup2;), n is the total number of litter items collected, and w and l represent the width and length (m) of the sampling area, respectively (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSampling Locations of Marine Debris Study in Palk Bay\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"7\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eS.no\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStation (site)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLatitude\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLatitude\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eActivities\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eArea (m\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e )\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKottaipattinam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eS\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.5846.25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e79.1254\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFishing activity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e300\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eS\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.58487\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e79.1272\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFishing activity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e300\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eS\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.58519\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e79.1211\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFishing activity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e300\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eS\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.58563\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e79.1214\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFishing activity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e300\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eS\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.58599\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e79.1217\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFishing activity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e300\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eR. Puthupattinam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eS \u0026ndash; 6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.5418.33\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e79.8231\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFishing activity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e300\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eS \u0026ndash; 7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.54225\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e79. 82817\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFishing activity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e300\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eS \u0026ndash; 8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.54273\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e79. 83169\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFishing activity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e300\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eS \u0026ndash; 9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.54329\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e79. 83691\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFishing activity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e300\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eS -10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.54367\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e79. 84385\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFishing activity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e300\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSite-wise analysis of marine debris distribution\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe present dataset summarizes the composition and abundance of marine debris collected from two coastal sites, Kottaipattinam and R. Puthupattinam. A total of 1,410 debris items were recorded at Kottaipattinam, while 759 items were documented at R. Puthupattinam, indicating a substantially higher debris load at Kottaipattinam.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAcross both sites, plastic waste dominated the debris composition, accounting for the largest number of items. Common plastic categories included plastic water bottles, cups, covers, fishing-related materials (nets, floats, and lures), and fragmented plastic pieces. Notably, plastic water bottles (202 items) and plastic cups (119 items) were particularly abundant at Kottaipattinam, whereas plastic pieces (76 items) and shampoo/detergent covers (49 items) were more prominent at R. Puthupattinam.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGlass waste was mainly represented by medicine glass items, with a high concentration at Kottaipattinam (264 items) compared to R. Puthupattinam (11 items). Foam debris, especially thermocol, was present at both sites, though slightly higher at Kottaipattinam. Metal, paper, cloth, rubber, wood, and electronic waste were observed in smaller quantities but consistently across both locations. The presence of fishing-related debris and consumer waste reflects the influence of local fishing activities and coastal human usage. Overall, the findings highlight significant spatial variation in debris distribution and emphasize plastics as the predominant pollutant along both coastal sites.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eComposition of marine debris\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe pie chart illustrates the composition of marine debris collected across the Palk Bay study sites. Non-biodegradable materials dominated the debris, accounting for 81.6% of the total, while biodegradable debris represented only 18.4%. The predominance of non-biodegradable waste, primarily plastics, highlights the significant anthropogenic pressure on the marine environment and underscores the urgent need for targeted waste management and pollution mitigation strategies in the region.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003e1. Site wise correlation of marine debris\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePearson correlations among ten variables (KP1\u0026ndash;KP5, RP1\u0026ndash;RP5) from two Palk Bay fishing zones were analyzed. KP2 and KP3 were strongly correlated (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.91), while KP1 showed weak correlations. In the RP group, RP1 \u0026amp; RP4 (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.84) and RP3 \u0026amp; RP4 (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.76) were highly correlated. Cross-group correlations were moderate, with KP5 \u0026amp; RP5 highest (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.67). Overall, KP variables were moderately correlated, RP variables formed a tight cluster, and KP1 was largely independent.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eConclusion: The present study provides a quantitative assessment of marine debris in the fishing zones of R. Puthupattinam and Kottaipattinam along the Palk Bay coast. A total of 759 debris items were recorded at R. Puthupattinam, whereas a significantly higher load of 1,410 items was observed at Kottaipattinam, indicating spatial variation in debris accumulation between the two sites.At R. Puthupattinam, plastic waste constituted 52.83% of the total debris, followed by paper \u003cb\u003e(\u003c/b\u003e16.74%\u003cb\u003e)\u003c/b\u003e and cloth \u003cb\u003e(\u003c/b\u003e11.59%\u003cb\u003e)\u003c/b\u003e, while other categories such as metal (8.04%), rubber (5.14%), foam (1.98%), glass (1.84%), wood (1.45%), and appliances \u0026amp; electronics (0.40%) contributed relatively minor proportions. Similarly, at Kottaipattinam, plastics dominated the composition, accounting for 54.96%, followed by glass \u003cb\u003e(\u003c/b\u003e19.86%\u003cb\u003e)\u003c/b\u003e, foam (6.67%), paper (6.52%), rubber (4.54%), metal (3.40%), cloth (3.12%), wood (0.57%), and appliances \u0026amp; electronics (0.35%). These findings clearly demonstrate that plastics represent the majority of marine debris at both sites.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe variation in total debris load and composition between the two locations reflects differences in local anthropogenic activities such as fishing practices, shoreline utilization, and population pressure. The results further suggest that a significant proportion of the debris originates from land-based sources, indicating inadequate waste management and disposal systems in the coastal region. The predominance of plastic debris poses serious ecological threats to marine life, particularly through ingestion and entanglement. Therefore, effective mitigation measures are urgently required, including the development of improved waste management infrastructure, awareness programs targeting fishers and coastal communities, regular beach clean-up initiatives, retrieval of abandoned fishing gear, and stricter regulation of waste disposal. Implementing these strategies will be essential to reduce marine debris pollution and ensure the sustainability of coastal ecosystems in Palk Bay.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI sincerely acknowledge the support and encouragement of my colleagues, friends, and family during the preparation and compilation of this data. This work was carried out entirely out of personal interest and motivation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor contributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSathiya Chinnathambi: Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Data curation, Formal analysis, Writing \u0026ndash; original draft.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSri Vishnu Prasanth Balachandran Rajkumar: Formal analysis, Visualization, Software (mapping), Validation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLakshmanna Ballari: Writing \u0026ndash; review \u0026amp; editing, Supervision.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAhamed Hathil Jabarulla Khan: Investigation (Sample collection), Data curation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrem Muthukrishnan: Investigation (sample collection).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests\u003c/strong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo funding\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability of data and materials Data available on request\u003c/strong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe datasets generated and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent for publication\u003c/strong\u003e \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUNEP, 2009. \u003cem\u003eMarine Litter: A Global Challenge\u003c/em\u003e. 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Science Advances 5 (9), eaax0587.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKiessling, T., Gutow, L., Thiel, M., 2015. Marine litter as habitat and dispersal vector. In: Bergmann, M., Gutow, L., Klages, M. (Eds.), Marine Anthropogenic Litter. Springer, Cham, pp. 141\u0026ndash;181.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eClaro, F., Fossi, M.C., Ioakeimidis, C., Baini, M., Lusher, A.L., McFee, W., McIntosh, R.R., Pelamatti, T., Sorce, M., Galgani, F., 2019. Tools and constraints in monitoring interactions between marine litter and megafauna: insights from case studies around the world. \u003cem\u003eMarine Pollution Bulletin\u003c/em\u003e 141, 147\u0026ndash;160.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDias, B.F.d.S., 2016. Marine Debris: Understanding, Preventing and Mitigating the Significant Adverse Impacts on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity. CBD Technical Series No. 83, p. 78.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLippiatt S, Opfer S, Arthur C (2013) Marine Debris Monitoring and Assess ment. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS-OR \u0026amp; R-46.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Marine debris, Sources, Distribution, Coastal sites, Anthropogenic, Abundance, quantity, Palk Bay","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9625306/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9625306/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eMarine debris is a global environmental concern that affects both marine wildlife and human populations. A baseline survey on marine debris was conducted for the first time at two coastal sites, R. Puthupattinam and Kottaipattinam, in the Palk Bay region, Southeast Coast of India. The study aimed to assess debris type, spatial distribution, quantity, composition (bio degradable and non-bio degradable) and data correlation of marine debris. Marine debris was collected from a fixed sampling area of 300 m\u0026sup2; at each site, with five samples collected per location. A total of 759 debris items were recorded at R. Puthupattinam, while 1,410 items were documented at Kottaipattinam. Plastics were identified as the predominant category of debris at both sites. R. Puthupattinam is characterized by relatively minor fishing activity, whereas Kottaipattinam functions as a major fish landing center, which likely contributes to the higher debris load observed at this site. The findings provide a baseline for understanding marine debris pollution in this ecologically and economically important coastal region and offer valuable insights for future coastal management and conservation efforts.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Quantification and Spatial Distribution of Marine Debris in the Fishing Zones of R. Puthupattinam and Kottaipattinam, Palk Bay, India","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-05-12 10:54:01","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9625306/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"8a73105c-a555-4385-ab4e-7dc25995b88b","owner":[],"postedDate":"May 12th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[{"type":"submitted","content":"Environmental Monitoring and Assessment","date":"2026-05-06T05:28:36+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-12T10:54:02+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-05-12 10:54:01","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9625306","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9625306","identity":"rs-9625306","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}