Chapter I: Introduction

Introduction

            Seventy percent (70%) of the earth is water.  It composes all water forms. The big part of it is the ocean.  Because of human behaviors and actions – accidental or intentional –the big part of our ocean has been polluted and damaged by litters.  The majority of sea or ocean-based sources of marine litter come from merchant shipping, ferries and cruise liners; fishing vessels; military fleets and research vessels; pleasure craft; offshore oil and gas platforms and drilling rigs; and aquaculture installations. Marine litter dispersion and deposition are strongly influenced by ocean currents, tidal cycles, regional-scale topography, including sea-bed topography and wind.

            What is Marine Litter?  Marine litter is defined as any persistent, manufactured or processed solid material discarded, disposed of or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment.  Marine litter consists of items that have been made or used by people and deliberately discarded into the sea or rivers or on beaches; brought indirectly to the sea with rivers, sewage, storm water or winds; accidentally lost, including material lost at sea in bad weather (fishing gear, cargo); or deliberately left by people on beaches and shores. (Jeftic, Ljubomir, et.al. 2009)

            Marine litter is found in all the oceans of the world, not only in densely populated regions, but also in remote places far from obvious sources and human activities.

Marine litter is a global concern affecting all the oceans of the world. It poses environmental, economic, health and aesthetic problems that are rooted in poor solid waste management practices, lack of infrastructure, indiscriminate human activities and behaviours and an inadequate understanding on the part of the public of the potential consequences of their actions.

            Following this scenario happening in our oceans or seas is frightening.  A kind of problem that has not excuse General Santos City coastal area, in fact, it is undoubtedly known to us that General Santos City Coastal areas are surrounded by community especially canning factories that may or may not accidentally or intentionally become the roots of marine litters.

            With this fact, education and public awareness campaigns were essential tools for environmental protection, and that raising public awareness and encouraging people to change their attitudes and behaviours related to solid waste management were essential components in efforts to mitigate marine litter.

            On this regard, this project with its title “COASTAL CLEANING AT THE GENERAL SANTOS CITY QUEEN TUNA PARK BARANGAY SOUTH, GENERAL SANTOS CITY: WAY TO COMBAT MARINE LITTERS” was conducted to create awareness to all beach goers at the General Santos City Queen Tuna Park who may accidentally or intentionally cause littering on the beach while having coastal picnic ; recreational use of the coast;  and having fishing activities and to influence fellow Generals in cleaning and disciplining them in understanding the potential consequences of their actions to environment.

Statement of the Problem

            This study sought to help the global challenges of Marine Litters.  Specifically, the following challenges:

1.    What are the Sources of Coastal Litters at the General Santos City Queen Tuna Park?

2.    What are the possible impact of Coastal or Marine Litters to people and the environment?

3.     What is the significance of Coastal-Clean up Drive in addressing the challenges?

Scope and Delimitations

            This study would like to find out the coastal litters at the General Santos City Queen Tuna Park, Barangay South, General Santos City.  Furthermore, the researcher delimited her study on the possible impact of Coastal Litters to people and the environment.

            It also delimited to the Coastal Cleaning at the Queen Tuna Park which was conducted last May 4, 2012 between 5:45 A.M.- 8:00 A.M.

Significance of the Study

            The researcher envisioned that the results of this study would be a great help to the following persons:

            The government.  This study would serve as an awakening means to the government officials who can make Institutional Arrangements, Policies and Laws in the enforcement of regulations related to solid waste management.

            The community.  It would helped the community to avoid the possible economic problem that may arise such as; (increased expenditures for beach cleaning, public health and waste disposal), tourism (loss of income, bad publicity), shipping (costs associated with fouled propellers, damaged engines, litter removal and waste management in harbours), fishing (reduced and lost catch, damaged nets and other fishing gear, fouled propellers, contamination), fish farming and coastal agriculture.

            The future researchers.  This study would help the future researchers as the basis of their study and additional literature for the future investigation.