Journal
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
Volume 175, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113341
Keywords
Plastic pollution; Singapore; Ghost nets; Ghost fishing; Marine debris; Urbanized shoreline; Southeast Asia
Funding
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore
- Student Research Award, Singapore Insti-tute of Biology
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This study found that ALDFGs remain a threat to marine biodiversity within urban coastal habitats and heavily modified shorelines in Southeast Asia, particularly in Singapore. Fishing lines and nets were the most common ALDFGs, with plastic polymer nets trapping the highest organism diversity and abundance.
Abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is considered a major threat to ocean biodiversity. Yet, little is known of the interactive impacts of ALDFGs and urban nearshore biodiversity and habitats, especially in Southeast Asia where fisheries efforts are increasing. We identified ALDFG hotspots around Singapore-where 80% of coastal areas are urbanized or anthropogenically modified. Fishing lines and nets were the most common ALDFGs recovered; with strong correlations between ALDFG presence and beaches, intertidal, mangroves, as well as sites with significant coastal modifications. Plastic polymer nets trapped the highest organism diversity and abundance. A total of 1052 trapped individuals comprising 124 species were recovered, the majority in classes Merostomata, Actinopterygii and Malacostraca. The most abundant trapped species was Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda and the highest mortality presentation was in Class Actinopterygii. This study demonstrates that ALDFGs remain a threat to marine biodiversity within urban coastal habitats and at heavily modified shorelines.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available