TY - JOUR

T1 - Priorities to inform research on marine plastic pollution in Southeast Asia

AU - Omeyer, Lucy C.M

AU - Duncan, Emily M.

AU - Aiemsomboon, Kornrawee

AU - Beaumont, Nicola

AU - Bureekul, Sujaree

AU - Cao, Bin

AU - Carrasco, Luis R.

AU - Chavanich, Suchana

AU - Clark, James

AU - Cordova, Muhammad R.

AU - Couceiro, Fay

AU - Cragg, Simon M.

AU - Dickson, Neil

AU - Frailler, Pierre

AU - Ferraro, Gianluca

AU - Fletcher, Stephen

AU - Fong, Jenny

AU - Ford, Alex

AU - Guttierrez, Tony

AU - Hamid, Fauziah Shahul

AU - Hiddink, Jan Geert

AU - Hoa, Pham T.

AU - Holland, Sophie L.

AU - Jones, Lowenna

AU - Jones, Nia

AU - Koldewey, Heather

AU - Lauro, Federico M.

AU - Lee, Charlotte

AU - Lewis, Matthew

AU - Marks, Danny

AU - Matallana-Surget, Sabine

AU - Mayorga-Adame, Claudia G.

AU - McGeehan, John

AU - Fesser, Lauren

AU - Michie, Laura

AU - Miller, Michelle A.

AU - Mohamad, Zeeda F.

AU - Nor, Nur Hazimah Mohamed

AU - Muller, Moritz

AU - Neill, Simon

AU - Nelms, Sarah E.

AU - Onda, Dea Florence

AU - Ong, Joyce J.L.

AU - Pariatamby, Agamuthu

AU - Phang, Sui C.

AU - Quiliam, Richard

AU - Robins, Peter

AU - Salta, Maria

AU - Sartimbul, Aida

AU - Shakuto, Shiori

AU - Skov, Martin

AU - Taboada, Evelyn B.

AU - Todd, Peter A.

AU - Toh, Tai Chong

AU - Valiyaveettil, Suresh

AU - Viyakran, Voranop

AU - Wonnapinij, Passorn

AU - Wood, Louisa E.

AU - Yong, Clara L.X.

AU - Godley, Brendan J.

PY - 2022/10/1

Y1 - 2022/10/1

N2 - Southeast Asia is considered to have some of the highest levels of marine plastic pollution in the world. It is therefore vitally important to increase our understanding of the impacts and risks of plastic pollution to marine ecosystems and the essential services they provide to support the development of mitigation measures in the region. An interdisciplinary, international network of experts (Australia, Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam) set a research agenda for marine plastic pollution in the region, synthesizing current knowledge and highlighting areas for further research in Southeast Asia. Using an inductive method, 21 research questions emerged under five non-predefined key themes, grouping them according to which: (1) characterise marine plastic pollution in Southeast Asia; (2) explore its movement and fate across the region; (3) describe the biological and chemical modifications marine plastic pollution undergoes; (4) detail its environmental, social, and economic impacts; and, finally, (5) target regional policies and possible solutions. Questions relating to these research priority areas highlight the importance of better understanding the fate of marine plastic pollution, its degradation, and the impacts and risks it can generate across communities and different ecosystem services. Knowledge of these aspects will help support actions which currently suffer from transboundary problems, lack of responsibility, and inaction to tackle the issue from its point source in the region. Being profoundly affected by marine plastic pollution, Southeast Asian countries provide an opportunity to test the effectiveness of innovative and socially inclusive changes in marine plastic governance, as well as both high and low-tech solutions, which can offer insights and actionable models to the rest of the world.

AB - Southeast Asia is considered to have some of the highest levels of marine plastic pollution in the world. It is therefore vitally important to increase our understanding of the impacts and risks of plastic pollution to marine ecosystems and the essential services they provide to support the development of mitigation measures in the region. An interdisciplinary, international network of experts (Australia, Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam) set a research agenda for marine plastic pollution in the region, synthesizing current knowledge and highlighting areas for further research in Southeast Asia. Using an inductive method, 21 research questions emerged under five non-predefined key themes, grouping them according to which: (1) characterise marine plastic pollution in Southeast Asia; (2) explore its movement and fate across the region; (3) describe the biological and chemical modifications marine plastic pollution undergoes; (4) detail its environmental, social, and economic impacts; and, finally, (5) target regional policies and possible solutions. Questions relating to these research priority areas highlight the importance of better understanding the fate of marine plastic pollution, its degradation, and the impacts and risks it can generate across communities and different ecosystem services. Knowledge of these aspects will help support actions which currently suffer from transboundary problems, lack of responsibility, and inaction to tackle the issue from its point source in the region. Being profoundly affected by marine plastic pollution, Southeast Asian countries provide an opportunity to test the effectiveness of innovative and socially inclusive changes in marine plastic governance, as well as both high and low-tech solutions, which can offer insights and actionable models to the rest of the world.

KW - Environmental governance

KW - Marine debris

KW - Marine ecosystems

KW - Marine litter

KW - Plastic debris

KW - Waste management

U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156704

DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156704

M3 - Review article

VL - 841

JO - Science of the Total Environment

JF - Science of the Total Environment

SN - 0048-9697

M1 - 156704

ER -