Abstract

Marine Debris (MD) magnitudes, impacts, and management were determined from samples collected along an urban coastal strip area of 95,015 m(2) belonging to Las Salinas Beach, located in the famous touristic Chilean city of Villa del Mar (Valparaiso Region). Along the entire area a total of 27,990 marine debris items were collected, equivalent to an average abundance of 0.34 items m(2). All items were grouped into 13 categories, with cigarette butts and plastic items dominating the samples with 38% (Avg: 0.13 items m(2)) and 32% (Avg: 0.11 items m(2)), respectively. Other marine debris groups were paper-cardboard 15% (Avg: 0.05 items m(2)), polystyrene 6% (0.02 items m(2)), machined wood 3% (Avg: 0.01 items m(2)) and metal 2% (Avg: 0.01 items m(2)). Glass, brick, organic items, cloth, sanitary waste, rubber, and other pollutants represent less than 4%. Las Salinas Beach can be considered as having "moderate" cleanliness in terms of the Clean Coast Index, however, hazardous debris items (sharp and toxic) reach a percentage of 43% (12089 items, Avg: 0.15 items m(2)). Beach user's detrimental littering habits play the lead role as the principal debris source, and are directly responsible for the decline for the environmental quality of Las Salinas Beach. Information presented in this work can encourage the development of optimal management strategies for preventing marine debris pollution along this area.