Stranded Marine Debris and Management on the Bazartete Coastline: Relating to the Mangrove Ecosystem in Liquiça Municipality of Timor-Leste

Abstract

Timor-Leste's coastal regions are resource-rich, but marine pollution is becoming more of an issue and unmanaged plastic and other waste from neighbouring cities are leaking into the coastal environment, exposing mangrove trees in Bazartete, Liquiça Municipality. Timor-Leste as a small island developing state (SIDS), faces challenges in managing solid debris, especially plastic waste, which endangers public health and marine biodiversity. Debris, especially large plastic waste, often blocks mangroves, which are vital for fish habitats and shoreline protection. This changes sediment conditions and hinders seedling growth. The buildup of marine debris in Bazartete seems to affect benthic organisms, decrease species diversity, and contaminate the soil and water. This study aims to analyzes the types, abundance and composition of marine debris in the mangrove ecosystem of Bazartete, Liquiça Municipality, assesses its impacts on macrozoobenthos and mangrove regeneration, evaluates current waste management practices, and proposes strategic recommendations for sustainable marine debris management and ecosystem mitigation in the area. Data collection was conducted in the period between 6 September 2024 to 30 October 2024 by applying survey techniques and direct primary data collection at three stations the research location. The data analyzed quantitative and qualitatively. This study found that plastic is the dominant type of marine debris across all research stations, with Tibar with the highest levels abundance by weight (86.52?gr/m²), density (1.62 items/m²), and volume (3.00?cm³/m²), while debris composition overall included seven categories: plastic, metal, glass, rubber, fabric, organic, and other inorganic materials, indicating a widespread pollution issue particularly impacting macrozoobenthos (r = -0.3352) and to a lesser extent mangrove seedlings (r = -0.0594). Although community awareness and participation in cleanups are relatively strong, marine debris management in Bazartete remains ineffective due to weak infrastructure, institutional gaps, and lack of integration with mangrove conservation, thereby requiring seven strategic, ecosystem-based interventions to strengthen sustainable coastal management in Liquiça Municipality.