Abstract

The proliferation of plastic pollution in coastal marine environments has emerged as a significant environmental issue, garnering global focus due to its detrimental impacts on marine ecosystems, human health, and economic endeavors. Coastal regions, characterized by the interaction between terrestrial ecosystems and marine environments, exhibit heightened vulnerability to the accumulation of plastic waste. The origins of this pollution are multifaceted, encompassing terrestrial activities characterized by inadequate waste management, the discharge of industrial effluents, contributions from precipitation, and inputs from river systems. Additionally, marine sources play a significant role, particularly those associated with the fishing industry and various maritime activities. The presence of plastic litter, which includes both large, discernible items and minute particles, poses considerable threats to marine organisms. The ingestion or entanglement of marine species, encompassing organisms from plankton to large mammals, in plastic debris leads to significant injuries, increased mortality rates, and disruptions within their respective food chains. Furthermore, plastics present in marine ecosystems have the capacity to absorb and disseminate toxic chemicals, thereby exacerbating the degradation of aquatic habitats. The ongoing challenges associated with the surveillance and regulation of plastic pollution in marine environments remain a significant concern. Traditional methodologies, such as in-situ sampling and airborne surveys, often present challenges related to labor intensity, time consumption, and limitations in both temporal and spatial dimensions. This scenario presents Earth observation (EO) imagery obtained from satellites as a feasible alternative. Satellites equipped with optical sensors offer a unique vantage point, enabling extensive surveillance of plastic waste distribution across extensive coastal areas with increased temporal resolution. This study investigates the utilization of data from the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 satellite for the identification and monitoring of floating macro plastics in coastal waterways. The present study aims to evaluate the precision and effectiveness of plastic waste detection utilizing sophisticated remote sensing techniques and machine learning algorithms.

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