Monitoring, pollution pattern and sources of litter in coastal zones in Tunisia and Germany

Marine litter, especially plastics, poses a major threat to marine ecosystems. This study focused on Tunisia and Germany, identifying key indicators through field monitoring and analysis. In Tunisia, beach litter was mostly plastic (54–70%), mainly from tourism. A benchmark with Germany highlighted management gaps. Biodegradability tests showed palm leaf, sugar cane, and paper degrade faster than PLA, CPLA, and PS. Results stress the need for data-driven strategies to reduce coastal pollution effectively.