Land-Based Sources of Marine Debris and Contamination of the Coastal Areas of the Caribbean Islands of St. Lucia, Dominica, and the British Virgin Islands

Abstract

In recent years, attention to marine debris and its associated problems has been in-creasing in the Caribbean region. This debris consists mostly of persistent material such as plastics, metal, glass, and rubber. The sources of this litter include maritime activities associated with shipping and fisheries, beach recreation activities, and land-based refuse. Marine debris poses serious threats to marine wildlife (through entanglement and ingestion), vessels (e. g., entanglement in propellers), and the aesthetic qualities of marine areas. Also, debris on shorelines is a potentially serious problem for Caribbean island states because it threatens the safety of beach users and negatively impacts the economy— tourism is a major source of revenue in many Caribbean island states. While regional experts increasingly identify the problem of marine debris as one of primary concern, many Caribbean states and territories have ratified conventions (Barnett, Chapter 14, this volume, Table 14.2) and initiated surveys and monitoring programs that address marine debris in the Wider Caribbean (Coe et al., Chapter 3, this volume).