Understanding the sources of marine litter in remote islands: The Galapagos islands as a case study

Marine litter, particularly plastic bottles, poses a significant threat to remote islands like the Galápagos. A study analyzing 60 beaches from 2018 to 2022 found that 76% were severely polluted with over 34 bottles per 100 meters. Most bottles (71%) originated from Peru, followed by China (17%) and Ecuador (9%), despite local products being predominantly Ecuadorian. Polyethylene terephthalate bottles with lids, which facilitate litter dispersal, accounted for 88% of the total, indicating that distant sources, mainly in South America, are the primary contributors. However, bottle ages suggest that a substantial portion—10% from Peru, 26% from Ecuador, and all from China—likely stems from ship dumping. The findings underscore the need to address land-based litter leakage in South America and enforce stricter regulations against ship waste dumping to mitigate marine pollution in the Galápagos.

Benito-Kaesbach, A., Suárez-Moncada, J., Velastegui, A., Moreno-Mendoza, J., Vera-Zambrano, M., Avendaño, U., Ryan, P. G., & Sanz-Lázaro, C. (2024). Understanding the sources of marine litter in remote islands: The Galapagos islands as a case study. Environmental Pollution, 347, 123772. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123772