Unveiling the risk of marine litter and derelict fishing gear in remote coral reefs of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, North Indian Ocean.

Abstract

An increasing amount of plastic litter and derelict fishing gear in the global oceans poses significant threats to corals and reef-associated marine biota. In this context, an underwater marine litter survey was conducted along the fringing coral reefs in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands- a remote archipelago in the Bay of Bengal, Northern Indian Ocean. The result revealed entanglement and smothering of coral colonies by plastic and derelict fishing gear. The survey recorded an average litter density of 0.42 ± 0.08 items/m² (range: 0.23 ± 0.02 to 0.71 ± 0.09) and a mean mass of 138.61 ± 42.15 g/m² (range: 70.17 ± 7.74 to 303.4 ± 2.55). Plastic was the most dominant litter (60.82 %) recorded in the reef environment. Derelict fishing gear made of plastic comprised 33.65 % of the total litter. Plastic Abundance Index (PAI), Hazardous Item Index (HII), and Clean Environment Index (CEI) were used to assess the ecological impact of marine litter. These indices highlighted the significant risks posed by marine litter to the coral reef environment. The finding helps to strengthen the assessment of marine litter in remote islands and underscores the urgent need for improved waste management, stricter regulations on the disposal of fishing gear, and effective removal of derelict fishing gear from the coral reef environments. Present study offers actionable insights for policymakers and stakeholders to prioritize interventions for managing marine litter to safeguard vulnerable coral reef systems.