Changes in Sources and Composition of Beach Waste in Coastal Cities around the Bohai Sea of China during the Tourist Peak and Off-Peak Seasons

Beach waste is an important pollutant in the Bohai Sea and coastal cities around the Bohai Sea and has raised many social and environmental concerns in China. The semi-closed characteristics of the Bohai Sea, the well-developed tourism, the special industrial structure and residents’ living habits endow the beach waste around Bohai sea with a unique character that should be explored. This study investigated changes in the sources and composition of beach waste in coastal cities around the Bohai Sea of China during the tourist peak and off-peak seasons. Beach waste from twenty beaches in thirteen coastal cities around the Bohai Sea was sampled and analyzed in March and August 2021, respectively. The results showed that beach waste around the Bohai Sea was characterized by large quantities and small weights and was greatly affected by human coastal activities. The sources and composition of beach waste from different coasts and different seasons varied, whereas the overall trend was consistent. In terms of composition, beach waste in both the tourist peak season and off-peak season was mainly composed of plastics, fabrics and paper, which accounted for more than 70% of the total in weight. Meanwhile, the proportion of plastics in the total quantity of beach waste was greatest (maximum of up to 71%) and exhibited seasonal fluctuations, trending higher in the tourist peak season than in the off-peak season. In contrast, trends in the proportion of paper and fabrics in the total quantity and total weight of beach waste were relatively stable in different seasons. In terms of sources, beach waste mainly derived from human coastal activities, the proportion of which in the total quantity of beach waste in the tourist peak season reached 70.55% and was 11% higher than that in the tourist off-peak season. Shipping/fishing activities were the second largest source of beach waste, and their proportion in the total quantity of beach waste in the tourist peak season was 5% lower than that in the tourist off-peak season, as the tourist peak season around the Bohai Sea coincides exactly with the fishing moratorium. The quantity of smoking-related waste only accounted for 9.35% and 7.73% of beach waste in the tourist peak and off-peak seasons, respectively. The special semi-enclosed structure of the Bohai gulf, surrounded by land on three sides, aggravated the accumulation of beach waste on the coast. Source reduction and classified recovery, collaborative management of marine waste and beach waste, and joint prevention and control mechanisms of three provinces (Liaoning, Hebei and Shandong) and one municipality (Tianjin) were suggested for comprehensive management of beach waste in coastal cities around the Bohai Sea of China. This study provided valuable information for beach waste management in coastal cities around the Bohai Sea of China.