Lok Sabha Question No. 2794 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: Survey to Assess Microplastic and Marine Debris
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Shri Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, Ms. Praniti Sushilkumar Shinde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2794 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 6 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## SURVEY TO ASSESS MICROPLASTIC AND MARINE DEBRIS

## 2794.  MS. PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE: SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has conducted any surveys between the year 2022 and 2025 to assess  microplastic  and  marine  debris  levels  along  country's  coast  and  if  so,  the  key findings thereof;
- (b) the details of coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, estuaries or coral reefs that have been identified as most vulnerable to plastic accumulation;
- (c) the current status of the draft National Marine Litter Policy including the timeline for its release, public consultation and inter-ministerial review;
- (d) the number of new beach locations where litter data has been collected as on June 2025 along with the updated estimates of marine litter quantity removed under coastal cleanup campaigns; and
- (e) the  details  of  scientific  or  community-led  measures  that  have  been  supported  by  the Government to address marine plastic pollution since 2022?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) Yes. Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) through National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) has  conducted  field  surveys  between  the  year  2022  and  2025  along  India's coastline to assess the microplastic and marine debris levels. Assessment of microplastics in both water and sediment has been carried out along the east and west coasts of India. On the west coast, 19 transects were surveyed from Porbandar (Gujarat) to  Kanyakumari  (Tamil  Nadu),  while  on  the  east  coast,  around  25  transects  were sampled from Puri (Odisha) to Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu). The findings indicate that the predominant sources of microplastic pollution are riverine inputs and Abandoned, Lost, and Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG). Further, regarding the marine debris, national level assessment of beach litter is being conducted every year during the International Coastal Clean-up Day on 3 rd Saturday of September under programme 'Swachh Sagar Surakshit  Sagar'  covering  the  coastal  States  and  Union  Territories.  The  assessments reveal  that  the  major  sources  of  beach  litter  are  tourism-related  and  recreational activities. Further, the data indicates a declining trend in beach litter over the years, with plastic litter contributing 67% in 2018 and reducing to 43% in 2024.

In addition, National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa has carried out a detailed study assessing microplastics in offshore sediments along the eastern Arabian Sea shelf. The findings revealed significant levels of microplastic pollution in marine sediments. Evaluation  of  spatial  and  seasonal  variation  of  microplastics  along  Mandovi-Zuari estuarine  system,  Sal  estuarine  system  was  undertaken  and  assessed  the  predominant type of plastics in these systems. Research was also conducted to assess the microplastic uptake and influence in bentho-pelagic region and its associated ecological risks along the  coast  of  Goa.  In  this  study,  9  pelagic  and  benthic  fish  and  shellfish  species  were studied  and  habitat  wise  higher  micro-plastics  contamination  was  found  in  benthic region and sediment compared to pelagic region and water column.

- (b) Studies have indicated that coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, estuaries and coral reefs are most sensitive coastal ecosystems to accumulate marine litter and microplastic.

Plastic litter survey conducted in coastal mangroves along the Goa coast has shown that average  litter  was  estimated  at  5.14  ±  0.55  items/m².  Plastic  items  were  ubiquitous, accounting for 66 % of anthropogenic litter.  Land-based mismanaged solid waste and public littering were identified as primary sources of litter pollution.

Likewise, marine litter survey conducted on coastal mangroves along the Maharashtra coast  has  shown  that  average  concentration  of  litter  was  measured  8.5±1.9  items/ m 2 (ranged 1.4 ̶ 26.9 items/m 2 ). Plastic dominated 83.02 % of all litter deposited on the mangrove forest.

Underwater  marine  litter  survey  was  conducted  along  the  fringing coral  reefs in  the Mahatma  Gandhi  Marine  National  Park,  Andaman  and  Nicobar  Islands.  The  survey recorded an average litter density of 0.42 ± 0.08 items/m 2 (range: 0.23 ± 0.02 to 0.71 ± 0.09) and a mean mass of 138.61 ± 42.15 g/m 2 (range: 70.17 ± 7.74 to 303.4 ± 2.55). Plastic was the most dominant litter (60.82 %) recorded in the reef environment.

Marine litter on North Cinque Island, a remote uninhabited island in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, Bay of Bengal has enumerated total of 6227 litter items with an average concentration of 0.12 items/m 2 , representing 20 diverse litter types, with plastic dominating the litter composition (86 %).

Marine litter survey was done in intertidal coral habitats of Mumbai. Average density of marine debris was estimated at 1.60 ± 0.13 items/m 2 . Plastic materials were the most abundant  of  all  debris  registered  in  the  study  area,  comprising  91.27%  of  the  total marine litter. Single use plastic bags and wrappers were dominant plastic debris.

- (c) The  roadmap  for  National  Marine  Litter  Policy  has  been  formulated  by  Ministry  of Earth Sciences (MoES) through National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) Chennai. The draft policy document has been circulated to relevant stakeholders, line ministries and agencies for review and consultations.
- (d) More than 250+ beach cleanup events have been organized by MoES institutes. About 150 tons of beach litter was removed through various programs such as Swachh Sagar Surakshit  Sagar,  International  Coastal  Cleanup  Day,  World  Oceans  Day,  Swachhata Pakhwada etc.
- (e) Community-led  measures:  NCCR-MoES  has  conducted  several  beach  clean-up  and awareness campaigns since 2018, to  raise awareness among students,  the public, and fishermen  communities  about  ill-effect  of  marine  litter  and  microplastics.  The  main objective is to involve the public in beach clean-up (Citizen Science approach) and to spread awareness of marine litter and microplastics.

Scientific  activities:  Several  scientific  studies  including  occurrence,  characterization, spatial  and  seasonal  variability  of  microplastics  and  impact  on biotic ecosystem  have been  conducted  along  the  eastern  and  western  Indian  coast.  Details  of  scientific  and community  led  measures  to  address  marine  plastic  pollution  since  2018  are  given below:

| State/UT                 | Number of beach cleanup event conducted by NCCR (MoES)   | Number of beach cleanup event conducted by NCCR (MoES)   | Number of beach cleanup event conducted by NCCR (MoES)   |   Number of beach cleanup event conducted by NCCR (MoES) | Number of beach cleanup event conducted by NCCR (MoES)   | Number of beach cleanup event conducted by NCCR (MoES)   |
|--------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|
|                          | 2018                                                     | 2019                                                     | 2021                                                     |                                                     2022 | 2023                                                     | 2024                                                     |
| Gujarat                  | -                                                        | 3                                                        | 2                                                        |                                                       10 | 3                                                        | 3                                                        |
| Maharashtra              | -                                                        | 3                                                        | 3                                                        |                                                        6 | 2                                                        | 1                                                        |
| Goa                      | -                                                        | 3                                                        | 2                                                        |                                                        6 | 2                                                        | -                                                        |
| Karnataka                | 1                                                        | 2                                                        | 4                                                        |                                                        6 | 3                                                        | 3                                                        |
| Kerala                   | 1                                                        | 4                                                        | -                                                        |                                                        5 | 6                                                        | 3                                                        |
| Tamil Nadu               | 2                                                        | 9                                                        | 12                                                       |                                                       10 | 9                                                        | 12                                                       |
| Puducherry               | -                                                        | 1                                                        | 3                                                        |                                                        4 | 3                                                        | 2                                                        |
| Andhra Pradesh           | 1                                                        | 1                                                        | 1                                                        |                                                        8 | 46                                                       | 1                                                        |
| Odisha                   | 1                                                        | 4                                                        | 5                                                        |                                                        7 | 3                                                        | 2                                                        |
| West Bengal              | -                                                        | 1                                                        | 1                                                        |                                                        6 | 2                                                        | 2                                                        |
| Lakshadweep Islands      | -                                                        | 2                                                        | -                                                        |                                                        4 | 3                                                        | -                                                        |
| Andaman& Nicobar Islands | 1                                                        | 2                                                        | -                                                        |                                                        3 | 1                                                        | 2                                                        |
| Daman/Diu                | -                                                        | -                                                        | -                                                        |                                                        2 | -                                                        | 1                                                        |
| Total                    | 7                                                        | 35                                                       | 33                                                       |                                                       77 | 83                                                       | 32                                                       |

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