Sunwook Hong, Jongmyoung Lee, Daeseok Kang, Hyun-Woo Choi, Sun-Hwa Ko,
Quantities, composition, and sources of beach debris in Korea from the
results of nationwide monitoring, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 84,
Issues 1?2, 15 July 2014, Pages 27-34, ISSN 0025-326X,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.05.051.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X14003427)
Abstract: This study assessed the levels of marine debris pollution and
identified its main sources in Korea. The surveys were bimonthly
conducted by NGO leaders and volunteers on 20 beaches from March 2008 to
November 2009. The quantities of marine debris were estimated at 480.9
(±267.7) count ? 100 m?1 for number, 86.5 (±78.6) kg ? 100 m?1 for
weight, and 0.48 (±0.38) m3 ? 100 m?1 for volume. The level of marine
debris pollution on the Korean beaches was comparable to that in the
coastal areas of the North Atlantic ocean and South Africa. Plastics and
styrofoam occupied the majority of debris composition in terms of number
(66.7%) and volume (62.3%). The main sources of debris were fishing
activities including commercial fisheries and marine aquaculture
(51.3%). Especially styrofoam buoy from aquaculture was the biggest
contributor to marine debris pollution on these beaches.
Keywords: Marine debris; Beach monitoring; Quantity; Composition;
Source; Korea