A plastic survey of Blue Bay and Pointe D'Esny, Mauritius

Shelbourne, G. and Ray, N. ORCID: 0000-0002-5188-4331, 2013. A plastic survey of Blue Bay and Pointe D'Esny, Mauritius. Phelsuma, 21, pp. 20-26. ISSN 1026-5023

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Abstract

Plastic waste, in particular neustonic waste poses a threat to wildlife. Blue Bay is situated on the south east coast of Mauritius and is a 20km2 shallow lagoon with a fringing reef and a number of islets. It includes an area designated a marine park in 2000. The lagoon contains 38 species of coral and 125 species of fish. The outer reef protects the island from incoming neustonic plastic fragments creating an opportunity to identify anthropogenic debris from the mainland. Beach surveys and tropical forest surveys used finger-tip searches to a depth of 2cm whereas as underwater surveys used quadrats and the roving diver technique. 28 transects and quadrats were surveyed in total over a 2 week period (March/April 2012). The fragments were analysed using the Resin Identification Code. The results indicate 1 beach location with higher levels of plastic fragments. These represent a threat to the local wildlife primarily through ingestion. Protected areas including the marine park and Ille Aux Aigrette show low levels of plastic debris.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Phelsuma
Creators:	Shelbourne, G. and Ray, N.
Publisher:	Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles
Date:	2013
Volume:	21
ISSN:	1026-5023
Divisions:	Schools > School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	13 Jul 2017 14:14
Last Modified:	13 Jul 2017 14:14
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/31236

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