Marine Pollution Bulletin 66 (2013) 117–124

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Marine Pollution Bulletin journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/marpolbul

Impacts of marine debris on wild animals in the coastal area of Korea
Sunwook Hong a,f, Jongmyoung Lee a,f,⇑, Yong Chang Jang a, Young Jun Kim b, Hee Jong Kim c, Donguk Han d,
Sang Hee Hong e, Daeseok Kang f, Won Joon Shim e a Our Sea of East Asia Network, 722 Leadersvill 1570-8, Jukrim, Gwangdo, Tongyeong, Gyeongnam 650-826, South Korea
Chungnam Wild Animal Rescue Center, 1 Dehoi, Yesaneup, Yesan County, Chungnam 340-702, South Korea c Migratory Birds Center of National Park Research Institute, Hongdo, Heuksan, Shinan, Jeonnam 535-916, South Korea d PGA Wetland Ecology Institute, 240-2, Dejang, Deokyang, Goyang City, Gyeonggi 412-250, South Korea e Oil & POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology, 391 Jangmok-myon, Geoje 656-834, South Korea f Pukyong National University, 45, Yongso-ro, Nam-Gu, Busan 608-737, South Korea b a r t i c l e

i n f o

Keywords:
Marine debris
Entanglement
Ingestion
Threatened species
Recreational fishing gear

a b s t r a c t
Over the last decade, marine debris has become a major factor affecting the coastal ecosystem of Korea.
This study compiled information regarding how marine debris impacts wildlife in Korea. Cases of marine debris impacting wildlife were collected from experts of various fields and from local participants through an open access website from February 2010 to March 2012. A total of 21 species were affected by marine debris: 18 species of birds, 2 species of mammals, and 1 species of crustacean. Five threatened or protected species were identified: black-faced spoonbill, finless porpoise, water deer, whooper swan, and greater painted snipe. Recreational fishing gears were the types of