Size and Types Distribution of Marine Debris in the Mangrove Ecosystem of Bintan Island - Indonesia

Identifying macroscopic to microscopic marine debris needs to be done to mitigate environmental damage and pollution, especially in the mangrove area, an area affected by tides. This study aims to identify macroscopic and microscopic marine debris in sediments and associated biota (gastropods) in the Mangrove Area on Bintan Island and Tanjungpinang City. The sampling location was determined using the purposive sampling method in the mangrove ecosystem area close to the settlement i.e. Kampung Bugis, Senggarang, Dompak, Tembeling, Penaga, Busung, and Pengudang Villages. Macroscopic waste was taken in the Mangrove Area with a 10x10 m transect and five subplots 1x1 m. Sediment and gastropod samples were taken from each plot and transect and then brought to the laboratory to analyze their microplastic content. The results showed macro-sized marine debris such as plastic, plastic foam, glass, ceramics, cloth, metal, rubber, wood, paper, cardboard and other materials were predominant respectively. Meso-size debris found were plastic, plastic foam, cloth, metal, paper, cardboard and rubber. Microplastics were detected with different shape including fragments, fibers and films in sediments and in form of pellets in gastropods digestive track. These results confirmed marine debris apportionment occurrence in the sediments and in the associated biota in the mangrove ecosystem on Bintan Island.