Jamaluddin Fitrah Alam1, Wahyudin2, Muh. Afdal3, Khusnul Yaqin1, Khaerunnisa Nasir1 and Syarfika1
1 Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
2 Faculty of Fisheries and Marine, Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haji, Tanjung Pinang, Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia
3 Faculty of Fisheries and Marine, Lambung Mangkurat University, Banjarbaru, Indonesia
Plastic pollution is a common environmental problem in many countries. Plastic waste ends up in the oceans and accumulates in smaller forms called microplastics (MPs). Takalar waters, located in South Sulawesi has several rivers flowing from residentials areas which contain MPs. Takalar waters also have a high potential for MPs due to the intensive seaweed farming in this area. Seaweed farming in Indonesia is known to have buoys of jugs, barrels, and reused mineral plastic bottles that produce MPs in the use for a duration of time in the sea. This study aims to study and see the presence of MPs in water and sediment; to identify the characteristics of microplastics including color, shape, and size in Takalar waters of seaweed farming and non-seaweed farming area. MPs identification was carried out visually using a Stereo Microscope (Euromex Stereo Blue 1902). The results showed that the microplastics found in the water and sediment samples in the first and second sampling were 519 MPs particles in both seaweed farming and non-seaweed farming area. From two sampling dates, there were 129 and 187 MPs particles were found in the water, while 104 and 99 MPs particles were found in the sediment. It was also found that MPs were more often found in the water and sediment of seaweed farming area compared to the non-seaweed farming area.