Marine debris in Malaysia: A review on the pollution intensity and mitigating measures

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Marine Biology
• Waste Management

Background:

• Malaysia's 2018 Roadmap towards Zero Single-use Plastics necessitates baseline marine debris data.
• Malaysia ranks 28th globally for plastic pollution, consuming 56 kg/capita/year.
• Imperative to gather data on mismanaged plastic waste.

Purpose of the Study:

• Review marine debris abundance and distribution on Malaysian beaches (2010-2020).
• Discuss current marine debris management issues in Malaysia.
• Propose data-driven solutions for marine debris reduction.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of marine debris studies in Malaysia from 2010-2020.
• Analysis of statistical-environmental data on beach pollution.
• Assessment of existing waste management systems and governance.

Main Results:

• Marine debris on Malaysian beaches ranged from 64 to 1930 items/m².
• Plastic debris constituted 30-45% of total collected waste.
• Plastic film, primarily from packaging, was the most dominant type.

Conclusions:

• Urgent need for an improved marine waste management system.
• Effective governance mechanisms are crucial for tackling plastic pollution.
• Statistical-environmental data can guide targeted interventions to reduce marine debris.