Litter reduction during beach closure in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic : quantifying the impact of users on beach litter generation

• Autor(a) principal: Souza Filho, José Rodrigues de
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Outros Autores: Chagas, Antônio Anselmo Silva, Silva, Iracema Reimão, Guimarães, Junia Kacenelenbogen, Sakanaka, Tania Emi, Andrade Neto, Gerson Fernandino de
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UFRGS
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10183/265804
• topic: Poluição marinha : Lixo : Medidas preventivas; Gestão costeira; Turismo litorâneo; Turismo : Impacto ambiental; Qualidade ambiental : Gestão : Resíduo sólido; Salvador (BA); Beach management; Coastal tourism; Environmental quality; Solid waste management

This study aimed to quantify marine litter before and during the COVID pandemic found on urban touristic beaches closed to beachgoer access in northeastern Brazil. Litter identification and quantification was conducted during April, June, and August 2019, when 3583 items were sampled, and replicated during the same months in 2020, when access to the beaches studied was prohibited and a significant reduction in the amount of litter was found, 1812 items (49% decrease). Transects were used to monitor and classify litter according to its source, namely: autochthonous (litter that was locally discarded) and allochthonous (litter from other sites and sources). All beaches were classified as "very clean" and presented a smaller amount of litter during the beach closure period. The highest total marine litter reduction between the periods studied was 83%, while au tochthonous litter in particular showed the most significant reduction, 88%. The comparison between the quantity and type of litter found in both periods showed greater specific anthropic pressure from beach users. Keywords: beach management. Coastal tourism. Environmental quality. Solid waste management.