Investigating the Effects of Marine Debris on Coastal Navigation

This study investigated the effects of marine debris (Plastics Debris, Wrecked Vessels, Ghost Fishing Gears) on coastal navigation in Eastern Port Channels comprising the Calabar, Onne-Bonny, Port Harcourt and Warri waterways. The research adopted survey method and structured questionnaire designed in five Likert scales for data collection from a sample size of 320 respondents being maritime professionals. The research tested three hypotheses using quantitative analysis on the survey data collated. Multiple regression analysis showed there is strong positive relationship between the dependent and independent variables which is significant at 95% significant level confirmed in the ANOVA table. The findings reveal that marine debris factors including; Plastics Debris, Wrecked Vessels, and Ghost Fishing Gears have individual significant effects on Navigational Hazards, Safety Risks and Economic Activities which compromise navigational safety, operational safety and potential economic operations of Calabar, Onne-Bonny, Port Harcourt and Warri waterways. The results of the test of hypotheses infer that the effects of PlasDebr, WreVess, and AbaFisGea on NavHaz, SafRis, and EcoAct in Eastern Port Channels are statistically significant. The study shows that a unit increase in PlasDebr, WreVess, and AbaFisGea would bring about 10.02, 4.010, and 2.005, degrees of effects on NavHaz respectively; a unit increase in PlasDebr, WreVess, and AbaFisGea would bring about 2.261, 3.032, and 0.936 degrees of effects respectively on SafRis; also, a unit increase in PlasDebr, WreVess, and AbaFisGea would bring about 2.123, 4.030 and 2.971, degrees of effects respectively on EcoAct. The study concludes that marine debris substantially hampers Nigeria’s eastern port zones, affecting port efficiency, fishing activities, livelihoods, marine safety, and coastal economic growth, however, the study recommends that the relevant authorities should implement immediate debris removal programs targeting high-traffic shipping lanes, with particular emphasis on plastic, wreckages and ghost fishing nets collection systems that address the most prevalent debris types considered in this study.