Invited Speakers

 

Assoc.Prof. Cherdvong Saengsupavanich
Vice Dean for Research Development Academic Services and Internationalization

Faculty of International Maritime Studies, Kasetsart University, Sri Racha Campus, Thailand

 

Biography: Cherdvong Saengsupavanich is the chief editor of Maritime Technology and Research, a Q2 Scopus-indexed journal, owned by the Faculty of International Maritime Studies, Kasetsart University, Sriracha Campus. He has reviewed hundreds of submissions for numerous Scopus-indexed journals. His expertise is coastal protection, coastal management, and coastal structures. He has also designed various coastal protection structures, especially revetments and breakwaters.

 

Title of Speech: Coastal debris: A Recent Review on Types and Impacts

Abstract: Coastal zones are critical economic and ecological hubs facing severe degradation from anthropogenic pressures, particularly the pervasive accumulation of coastal debris. This review synthesizes global research on debris types, abundance, significant ecological impacts, and essential management strategies. Analysis of worldwide case studies confirms that debris, originating from both land and ocean sources, is a profound problem, dominated overwhelmingly by plastic and polystyrene. Common debris items, including derelict fishing gear and single-use packaging, show abundance directly linked to urbanization and inadequate waste management systems. The ecological consequences are critical. The debris inflicts direct physical harm through entanglement and causes physiological impairment via ingestion, inducing false satiation and transferring toxins across trophic levels. It also causes habitat destruction and acts as a biological vector for non-native species. Effectively addressing this crisis demands an urgent, multi-pronged strategy: improving monitoring through integrated tools and citizen science, setting clear reduction targets aligned with a circular economy model, and establishing multilateral working groups for coordinated global governance. Urgent and collaborative action is vital to secure the health of coastal and marine ecosystems.