Descriptive study of marine debris at Pantai Cempaka, Kuantan, Pahang

Abdullah Sani, Siti Hajar and Ruslai, Nurulhidayati and Mohd. Sani, Rositi Mashani and Zahari, Shafiyyah Solehah (2024) Descriptive study of marine debris at Pantai Cempaka, Kuantan, Pahang. In: International Conference on Future and Sustainable Education 2024 (ICFSE 2024), 16th - 17th July 2024, Gambang, Pahang, Malaysia.

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Abstract

Pantai Cempaka is a recreational beach within a small fishing village in Kuantan, Pahang. It is also a natural habitat for various flora such as mangrove trees. Mangrove trees grow best in brackish water particularly requiring an area free from pollutants such as marine debris. Any persistent, manufactured, or processed solid material discarded, disposed or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment is defined as marine debris. Aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Responsible Consumption and Production which aims to focus on environmentally sound management of all wastes, the Biology Department initiated a waste analysis via a beach clean-up program covering 3,317.38 m2 of the study area involving 19 staff and 45 biological sciences students from Centre for Foundation Studies, International Islamic University Malaysia (CFS IIUM). The program aspires to educate the participants on the importance of biodiversity and ecosystems and instil awareness of a sustainable environment. This research was conducted to determine the type and amount of marine debris. The collected marine debris were identified, sorted based on category, counted, and weighed. Seven categories of marine debris are plastic, rubber, glass and ceramic, cloth, wood and timber, metal, and paper cardboard. A total of 3,144 items were found with a total weight of 275.18 kilograms. The results showed that plastic debris was the major contributor to beach pollution (93.2%), followed by rubber (4.4%), and glass and ceramic (2.4%). Plastic debris weighed the most (224.79 kg), rubber (26.50 kg), and glass and ceramic (23.89 kg). In conclusion, our findings show similar results to those previous studies on marine debris conducted in Malaysia, indicating that plastic is the most abundant debris observed.

Item Type:	Proceeding Paper (Poster)
Additional Information:	5244/120353
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Marine debris, Plastic, Mangrove
Subjects:	Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Centre for Foundation Studies
Depositing User:	Ms Siti Hajar Abdullah Sani
Date Deposited:	25 Mar 2025 15:11
Last Modified:	25 Mar 2025 15:13
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/120353

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