Fishing gear a major source of ‘microplastic’ contamination along Indian coasts
In News:Fishing gear a major source of ‘microplastic’ contamination along Indian coasts
News Summary:
- The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), through the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), conducted coastal surveys (2022–2025) to assess microplastic and marine debris levels.
- Key finding: The predominant sourcesof microplastic pollution along Indian coasts are:
- Riverine inputs (plastics carried by rivers into the sea)
- Abandoned, Lost, and Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG)
- Survey covered:
- West coast: 19 transects from Porbandar (Gujarat) to Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu)
- East coast: 25 transects from Puri (Odisha) to Thoothukudi (Tamil Nadu)
About Microplastics:
- Definition: Plastic particles 1 µm to 5 mm in size.
- Types:
- Primary: Manufactured small (e.g., microbeads in cosmetics)
- Secondary: Formed by breakdown of larger plastics.
- Concerns: Linked to tumours, toxic to marine life, and may contaminate food chains.
Source: The Hindu | Updated: August 06, 2025, 10:03 PM IST
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