Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Quantities and composition of shore debris along Clifton Beach, Karachi, Pakistan

  • Published:
Journal of Coastal Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Debris abundance and composition were investigated for the first time along the most popular beach (Clifton Beach) of Karachi, Pakistan, which is one of the most populous cities of the world. The surveys were conducted in June, July and August 2013 to estimate the number and the weight of 10 predetermined types of debris along the beach front of Karachi. The 3-month average quantities of the debris collected from the designated transects of Clifton Beach were 2216 ± 371 counts in number and 13.71 ± 2.15 kg in weight. The quantities of beach debris were estimated at 8865 ± 1483 items km−1, with a corresponding weight of 54.83 ± 8.58 kg km−1. In terms of number, plastic was the most abundant debris along the beach (50.5 % of the total counts), which was followed by food (7.5 %) and paper (6.6 %) while, in terms of weight, processed wood was the most abundant debris on the beach (25.5 % of the total), which was followed by plastic (19.9 %) and metal (9.8 %). Plastic items were significantly higher (p < 0.001) than any other type of debris on the beach during all the 3 months. The predetermined types of debris were also classified on the basis of their sizes. Metal, glass, paper, plastic and rubber items were largely smaller in size while styro-foam, masonry, processed wood and cloth items were mostly larger in size. The main sources of debris were restaurants, cafés and hawkers, which served food, beverages and mild stimulants in plastic, polystyrene and aluminum foil to the beach visitors. Furthermore, the major part of floating debris from Lyari and Malir rivers were ultimately deposited along the shoreline of Karachi.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barnes DKA (2002) Biodiversity: invasions by marine life on plastic debris. Nature 416:808–809

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cauwenberghe LV, Claessens M, Vandegehuchte MB, Mees J, Janssen CR (2013) Assessment of marine debris on the Belgium Continental Shelf. Mar Pollut Bull 73:161–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • City Mayor’s Statistics (2011) http://www.citymayors.com/statistics/largest-cities-mayors-1.html

  • Claereboudt MR (2004) Shore litter along sandy beaches of the Gulf of Oman. Mar Pollut Bull 49:770–777

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Convey P, Barnes DKA, Morton A (2002) Debris accumulation on oceanic islands shores of the Scotia Arc, Antarctica. Polar Biol 25:612–617

    Google Scholar 

  • Corbin CJ, Singh JG (1993) Marine debris contamination of beaches in St. Lucia and Dominica. Mar Pollut Bull 26(6):325–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham DJ, Wilson SP (2003) Marine debris on beaches of Greater Sydney Region. J Coast Res 19(2):421–430

    Google Scholar 

  • Debrot AO, Tiel AB, Bradshaw JE (1999) A study of beach debris contamination in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. Mar Pollut Bull 38:795–801

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Debrot AO, van Rijn J, Bron PS, de Leon R (2013) A baseline assessment of beach debris and tar contamination in Bonaire, Southeastern Caribbean. Marine Pollution Bulletin 71:325–329

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Derraik JGB (2002) The pollution of marine environment by plastic debris: a review. Mar Pollut Bull 44:842–852

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dharani G, Nazar AKA, Venkatesan RM (2003) Marine debris in Great Nicobar. Curr Sci 85(5):574–575

    Google Scholar 

  • Gago J, Lahuerta F, Antelo P (2014) Characteristics (abundance, type and origin) of beach litter on the Galician coast (NW Spain) from 2001 to 2010. Sci Mar 78(1):125–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galgani F, Claro F, Depledge M, Fossi C (2014) Monitoring the impact of litter in large vertebrates in the Mediterranean Sea within the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD): constraints, specificities and recommendations. Mar Environ Res 100:3–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • GESAMP (IMO/FAO/UNESCO/WMO/WHO/IAEA/UN/UNEP Joint Goup of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution) 1991: Global strategies for marine environmental protection. Rep. Stud. GESAMP (45): p 36

  • Gregory MR, Ryan PG (1997) Pelagic plastics and other seaborne persistent synthetic debris: a review of Southern Hemisphere perspectives. In: Coe JM, Rogers DB (eds.), Marine Debris - Sources, Impacts and Solutions. Springer-Verlag, New York, pp 49--66

  • Hasan A (2012) The gentrification of Karachi coastline. Paper for London workshop towards an emerging geography of gentrification of global south, 23–24

  • Hong S, Lee J, Jang YC, Kim YJ, Kim HJ, Han D, Hong SH, Kang D, Shim WJ (2013) Impacts of marine debris on wild animals in the coastal area of Korea. Mar Pollut Bull 66:117–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hong S, Lee J, Kang D, Choi H-W, Ko S-H (2014) Quantities, composition, and sources of beach debris in Korea from the results of nationwide monitoring. Mar Pollut Bull 84:27–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IOC/IOCARIBE (1989) Report from third session of the IOC sub-commission for the Caribbean and adjacent regions

  • Jang YC, Hong S, Lee J, Lee MJ, Shim WJ (2014) Estimation of lost tourism revenue in Geoje Island from the 2011 marine debris pollution event in Korea. Mar Pollut Bull 81:49–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karachi Metropoliton Corporation. http://www.kmc.gos.pk/Contents.aspx?id=14

  • Khairunnisa AK, Fauziah SH, Agamuthu P (2012) Marine debris composition and abundance: a case study of selected beaches in Port Dickson, Malaysia. Aquat Ecosyst Health Manag 15:279–286

    Google Scholar 

  • Kottek M, Grieser J, Beck C, Rudolf B, Rubel F (2006) World map of the Koppen-Greiger climate classification. Meteorol Z 15(3):259–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madezena A, Lasiak T (1997) Spatial and temporal variations in beach litter on the Transkei coast of South Africa. Mar Pollut Bull 34(11):900–907

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martinez-Ribes L, Basterretxea G, Palmer M, Tinetorè J (2007) Origin and abundance of beach debris in the Balearic Islands. Sci Mar 71(2):305–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mcllgorm A, Campbell HF, Rule MJ (2011) The economic cost and control of marine debris damage in the Asia-Pacific region. Ocean Coast Manag 54(9):643–651

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ofiara DD, Brown B (1999) Assessment of economic losses to recreational activities from 1988 marine pollution events and assessment of economic losses from long-term contamination of fish within the New York bight to New Jersey. Mar Pollut Bull 38(11):990–1004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Otley H, Ingham R (2003) Marine debris surveys at Volunteer Beach, Falkland Islands, during the summer of 2001/02. Mar Pollut Bull 46:1534–1539

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Philipp R, Pond K, Rees G (1994) Medical waste increasing on the coastline. Br Med J 309:471

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Provencher JF, Bond AL, Hedd A, Montevecchi WA, Muzaffar SB, Courchesne SJ, Gilchrist HG, Jamieson SE, Merkel FR, Falk K, Durinck J, Mallory ML (2014) Prevalence of marine debris in marine birds from the North Atlantic. Mar Pollut Bull 84:411–417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ribic CA, Sheavly SB, Klavitter J (2012) Baseline for beached marine debris on Sand Island, Midway Atoll. Mar Pollut Bull 64:1726–1729

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santos IR, Friedrich AC, Ivar do Sul JA (2009) Marine debris contamination along undeveloped tropical beaches from northeast Brazil. Environ Monit Assess 148:455–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schuyler Q, Hardesty BD, Wilcox C, Townsend K (2013) Global analysis of anthropogenic debris ingestion by sea turtles. Conserv Biol 28(1):129–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheavly SB, Register KM (2007) Marine debris and plastics: environmental concerns, sources, impacts and solutions. J Polym Environ 15:301–305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith SDA (2012) Marine debris: a proximate threat to marine sustainability in Bootless Bay, Papua New Guinea. Mar Pollut Bull 64:1880–1883

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • STAP/UNEP (2011) Marine debris as a global environmental problem: introducing a solutions based framework focused on plastic. A STAP Information Document. Global Environment Facility, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Taffs KH, Cullen MC (2005) The distribution and abundance of beach debris on isolated beaches of Northern New South Wales, Australia. Aust J Environ Manag 12:244–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Todd PA, Ong X, Chou LM (2010) Impacts of pollution on marine life in Southeast Asia. Biodivers Conserv 19:1063–1082

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Topҫu EN, Tonay AM, Dede A, Öztürk AA, Öztürk B (2013) Origin and abundance of marine litter along sandy beaches of the Turkish Western Black Sea Coast. Mar Environ Res 85:21–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tudor DT, Williams AT (2008) Important aspects of beach pollution to managers: South Wales and the Bristol Channel, UK. J Coast Res 24(3):735–745

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams AT, Simmons SL (1996) The degradation of plastic litter in rivers: implications for beaches. J Coast Conserv 2(1):63–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams AT, Gregory M, Tudor DT (2005) Marine debris – onshore, offshore, seafloor. In: Schwartz ML (ed) Encyclopedia of coastal processes 623–628. Springer

  • Williams AT, Pond K, Ergin A, Cullis MJ (2013) The hazards of Beach Litter. In: Finkl C (Ed) Coastal hazards. Springer, pp 553–580

  • Williams AT, Randerson P, Alharbi OA (2014) From a millennium base line to 2012: beach litter changes in Whales – a review. Mar Pollut Bull 84:17–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willoughby NG, Sangkoyo H, Lakaseru BO (1997) Beach litter: an increasing and changing problem for Indonesia. Mar Pollut Bull 34:469–478

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan

    Ramzan Ali & Zafar Iqbal Shams

Authors
  1. Ramzan Ali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zafar Iqbal Shams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zafar Iqbal Shams.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ali, R., Shams, Z.I. Quantities and composition of shore debris along Clifton Beach, Karachi, Pakistan. J Coast Conserv 19, 527–535 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-015-0404-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-015-0404-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation