Microplastics In The Surface Seawater Of The Northeastern South China Sea And Western Pacific:Occurrence Characteristics And Management Approaches

In this study,through the scientific investigation of two voyages,surface microplastic samples from the Northeastern South China Sea and the Western Pacific were collected using a Manta Trawl with a mesh size of 330 ?m.For the first time,this study reports on the microplastic data obtained from Manta Trawls in the two areas,and summarizes its occurrence characteristics in the surface waters of the Northeastern South China Sea and the Western Pacific,also explores its possible sources.On this basis,in view of the increasingly serious trend of marine plastic waste pollution,combined with the increasingly serious trend of marine plastic waste pollution,put forward management control measures and related recommendations.The preliminary conclusions of the study are as follows:(1)Distribution characteristics.The abundance of surface microplastics in the Northeastern South China Sea is 0.050-0.256 particles/m3,and the average abundance is 0.12310.068 particles/m3.The abundance of surface microplastics in the Western Pacific is 0.015-0.099 particles/m3,and the average abundance is 0.055±0.028 particles/m3.Compared with the results of the same research methods in other sea areas of the world,microplastic pollution in the surface waters of the Northeastern South China Sea and the Western Pacific is generally at a medium level.The surface microplastic reserves in the South China Sea basin area are about 772.8 t,and the surface microplastic reserves in the Western Pacific are about 829.2 t.According to the calculation results,it is proved that the deep sea may be one of the reservoirs of microplastics.The distribution of microplastics in the two areas is subject to multiple conditions and has no obvious regularity.The higher abundance of microplastics in the surface waters of the Northeastern South China Sea are distributed on both sides of the Luzon Strait and near the Zhongsha Islands.The higher abundance of microplastics in the surface waters of the Western Pacific are distributed on the eastern side of Luzon Island and Mindanao Island and near Hamahira Island.(2)Source.The source of microplastics in the Northeastern South China Sea is greatly affected by human activities and the industrial development of coastal cities in East Asia and Southeast Asia.The microplastics in seawater are transmitted from the near shore to the marginal sea through various dynamic factors such as coastal runoff,ocean circulation and tidal flow.The source of microplastics in the Western Pacific is mainly related to offshore operations such as ocean fishing,ocean shipping,scientific investigations.Plastic products discarded from marine vessels are one of the sources of the Western Pacific microplastics,broken and aging in aquaculture.Farming equipment is also another important source.(3)Management approaches.In view of the current problem of marine plastic pollution to be solved,it is recommended that relevant government departments or agencies improve the legal system for prevention and control of marine plastic waste pollution,formulate an action plan as soon as possible,strengthen the monitoring and evaluation of marine plastic waste,and control marine plastic waste throughout the process;Participate in international cooperation and global governance of marine plastic waste;strengthen publicity and education on marine garbage prevention and control,and continuously improve the public participation system.The Northeastern South China Sea and the Western Pacific are significantly affected by land sources,and there are numerous neighboring countries and regions.The investigation of the occurrence characteristics of microplastics in the sea area is one of the basic problems of marine environmental science in the region,and it is also an inevitable requirement for exploring the source analysis.Domestic scholars are still unclear about the degree of microplastic pollution of environmental media such as seawater in important sea areas and key habitats,and there are few systematic studies on pollution source emission characteristics and traceability methods,especially in the study of the diffusion,transmission and environment of microplastics in the sea.There is a gap in the fate and other aspects.This study studies the occurrence,source analysis,transmission process and policy analysis of microplastics in the surface waters of the Northeastern South China Sea and the Western Pacific through systematic sampling and analysis,which is a representative edge for understanding global warming.The fate of the microplastics in the marginal sea and the open ocean is of great significance and environmental effects.It also provides a reference for the research and control of marine microplastics.