Abstract

Marine litter is defined as any persistent man-made solid material discarded in marine and coastal environments (UNEP, 2021). Plastic debris is the primary component of marine litter and poses a significant environmental threat. In the western Caribbean, it is estimated that thousands of tons of plastic waste flow into the region each year from the Motagua River and various Honduran rivers (Kikaki et al., 2020). Despite the importance of this issue, only 66 peer-reviewed studies on marine litter have been published in the Caribbean from 1980 to 2020, with just four focusing on mangroves (Kanhai et al., 2022). Research indicates that mangrove forests trap marine litter through their aerial root systems, often exhibiting higher concentrations of debris than beaches. Although studies on the effects of plastics in mangroves are limited, findings suggest that plastic accumulation can obstruct root growth and adversely affect the associated fauna (Martin et al., 2019). Therefore, the objectives of this study are to determine the current concentration, composition, and origin of marine litter present in the mangrove forest of Roatan Island in the Bay Islands of Honduras, and analyze the composition and abundance of litter in the digestive system of a post-mortem American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus).

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