Experts Call for National Marine Litter Policy as Monsoon Drives Coastal Pollution

Nearly 46 per cent of India’s annual marine litter load is washed into the sea during the southwest monsoon , prompting experts to call for a national marine litter policy and a broader strategy to tackle plastic pollution.

The concerns were raised at the workshop “Navigating the Marine Debris Crisis: Science, Impact, and Strategies”, organised by the Fishery Survey of India (FSI) on World Environment Day.

Experts said heavy rainfall and flooding mobilise large volumes of accumulated land-based waste into rivers and coastal waters, turning monsoon runoff into a major source of marine pollution. They stressed the need to move beyond beach clean-ups and adopt a catchment-to-coast approach focused on preventing waste from entering waterways.

Data presented at the workshop showed that major river systems, including the Ganga-Brahmaputra and Indus basins , are significant contributors to marine plastic pollution. The Ganga alone is estimated to discharge around 1.2 lakh tonnes of plastic waste annually into the marine ecosystem.

As India’s nodal agency for the FAO’s Global Litter Project, the FSI has recovered 23 tonnes of abandoned fishing gear, or “ghost gear,” from depths of up to 500 metres over the past three years. Scientists also showcased “Jeevsutra,” a biodegradable fishing yarn designed to reduce marine pollution.

Research highlighted the growing impact of marine litter on Maharashtra’s coastline, where urban plastics account for nearly 85.9 per cent of coastal debris . Mumbai’s Versova and Juhu beaches were classified as “Extremely Dirty,” while studies found marine debris affecting 9.21 per cent of live coral colonies off the city’s coast.

Experts said source-level waste interception, recycling infrastructure, digital monitoring and a national plastic-waste strategy are essential to curb monsoon-driven marine pollution and protect coastal ecosystems.