Temporal variability of plastic litter in two sand beaches of San Andres Island, Colombian Caribbean

Abstract

The majority of marine plastic waste is anthropogenic. Recently, several reports have documented negative impacts on tourist beaches in the Caribbean, especially on the fauna associated with marine coastal ecosystems. This study analyzes the characteristics and seasonal variation of plastic waste considering the most common sizes on two beaches (Spratt Bight and Los Charquitos) of San Andres Island in 2021. Nine hundred twenty-six plastic items were collected from three perpendicular transects established in three beach strips. The largest number of plastic debris (416 items) was found in the dry season (March), followed by the transition (August, 280 items) and rainy season (November, 230 items). Regarding relative abundance, microplastics are the most predominant size class, while fragments are the most common form of plastic debris on San Andres Island beaches.