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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Ocean Sustain.
Sec. Marine Pollution Assessments and Solutions
Volume 2 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/focsu.2024.1474477
This article is part of the Research Topic The Contributions of Early Career Researchers in Advancing Ocean Sustainability View all articles

Netting the problem: A comprehensive analysis of Marine Litter on Artisanal Fishers

Provisionally accepted
Nicole Russo Guerrato Nicole Russo Guerrato *Leandra Gonçalves Leandra Gonçalves
  • Federal University of Sao Paulo, Santos, Brazil

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Marine litter, a critical global challenge, has gained prominence in international discourse, particularly during the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.While extensive scientific literature on the distribution, origin, and ecological impacts of marine litter, research focusing on its socioeconomic impacts, especially on artisanal fishing communities, is markedly sparse. This study aims to address the gap in the impact of marine litter on small scale fishery through a systematic analysis of global research trends, patterns, and impacts of marine litter on fishing activities. Utilizing databases such as Scopus, SciELO, and repositories of theses and dissertations, the study analyzed scientific publications from 2011 to 2021, with keywords including "small-scale fishery," "artisanal fishery," "fisheries," and "marine litter." The analysis identified 14 articles that specifically address the impact of marine litter on the small-scale fisheries. These findings highlight a critical research gap: while the literature often portrays fishermen as sources of marine litter, notably through fishing gear, it seldom focuses on them as victims impacted by these environmental challenges. The study reveals the necessity for a more balanced research approach that integrates both environmental and social dimensions of marine litter, particularly in underrepresented regions.The increasing global focus on marine litter in recent academic research indicates a promising trajectory towards addressing these challenges comprehensively. This article underscores the urgency of broadening the scope of marine litter research to include the socioeconomic impacts on coastal communities, particularly artisanal fishermen. Such an approach is essential for developing effective, holistic solutions that address the intricate challenges posed by marine litter, balancing environmental protection with the livelihoods of coastal communities.

    Keywords: small scale fishermen, marine litter, Socioeconomic impacts, Systematic Literature Review, Sustainable development goal 14

    Received: 01 Aug 2024; Accepted: 13 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Guerrato and Gonçalves. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Nicole Russo Guerrato, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Santos, Brazil

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