Pollution des plages de Mostaganem par les déchets plastiques (bouteilles et bouchons)

Abstract

The presence of plastic waste has become one of the major problems in the Algerian beaches including the Mostaganem Coast. The plastic pollution also has deleterious effects on the marine environment. Our study aimed to contribute to the knowledge of the qualitative and quantitative characteristics, the evaluation of the spatial distribution of plastic waste (bottles and caps) and the factors influencing this phenomenon on the coastal zone of Mostaganem. We chose the same locations as Benarous (master manuscript-University of Mostaganem, 2019), accordingly Oureah beach, the cove near Sablettes beach and the cove named “Trois Frères” which is located in Kharrouba it the eastern part of Mostaganem district. The study was carried out applying exactly the same methodology using a quadra of 1 m2 with integrated camera allowing a precise quantification of the plastic waste. The obtained results reveal heterogeneity in the distribution of plastic waste along transects set parallel to the coast in each location. “Trois Frères” location is the most polluted by plastics, in particular bottles with their caps. The cove near Sablettes beach has a high concentration of damaged bottles, partly wedged between the rocks. Oureah beach, on the other hand, is the least affected by plastic pollution. Several parameters influence the dominance of waste on r beaches such as the wind, waterways, waves, sea currents, human activities, fishing activities and the morphology of the land. The decrease of the plastic bottles is probably due to promoted recycling in the Wilaya of Mostaganem.