Understanding the socioeconomic determinants of marine plastic pollution: Evaluating policy effectiveness and mitigation strategies in the Global South

Marine plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most pressing global environmental challenges, with increasing volumes of plastic waste entering the oceans due largely to complex socio-economic dynamics rather than purely ecological processes. Globally, an estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the ocean annually aggravating the 150 million metric tons already circulating in the marine environment. While existing studies often emphasise the ecological consequences of plastic debris on marine biodiversity, comparatively limited attention has been given to the underlying social, economic, and cultural drivers that accelerate plastic leakage into marine environments, as well as the effectiveness of policy responses aimed at mitigating the problem. Using the conventional data collection of qualitative and quantitative approach, and extensive secondary materials, this paper examines the extent to which socio-economic factors are contributing to the escalation of marine plastic pollution and evaluates the effectiveness of existing policies and alternative strategies designed to address the challenge in the Global South. The findings reveal that rapid urbanization, population growth, inadequate waste management infrastructure, and unsustainable consumption patterns are primary and underlying drivers of marine plastic pollution. Additional findings reveal that there are critical governance gaps including weak enforcement, fragmented regulatory mechanisms and limited global cooperation are undermining effective implementation of policies and legislation of marine plastic pollution. The paper recommends an integrated strategy combining strong policies, legislation, and regulations such as bans on single-use plastics, extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, improved waste management infrastructure, strict enforcement mechanisms, regional cooperation, and incentives for circular economy innovations. Furthermore, the paper advocates for an integrated socio-economic and governance-based approaches to complement existing marine management policies that reduce marine plastic pollution and support more sustainable ocean management. • Assesses the primary and underlying drivers of marine plastic pollution in Global South countries • Evaluates governance frameworks addressing marine pollution in developing nations • Explores policy effectiveness in mitigating plastic leakage into oceans • Highlights socio-economic consequences of marine plastic on coastal communities • Recommends sustainable management strategies for resilient ocean ecosystems