Quality assessment of four beaches in Tacna, Peru using indices based on marine debris

The objective of the study was to determine the quality indices of marine debris during the summer season on four beaches (Los Palos, Tres Cruces, Caleta Vila Vila and Los Hornos) in the region of Tacna, Peru. An area of 100 m² was taken for each of the four beaches, where seven categories of marine debris were collected: plastic, metal, glass, paper, fabric, rubber and hazardous waste, at intervals of every 15 days in six visits. The main waste found was plastic (54.18%), followed by paper (26.10%), and metal (10.25%). Six indices based on marine debris were determined: Density of Marine Debris where the beach with the highest density was Los Palos; two diversity indices, Shannon-Wiener and Pielou equity, finding that the four beaches were low in diversity and dominated by plastic waste. Finally, three quality indices, where the General Index showed that Los Hornos Beach is in the “Clean” category and the other beaches in “Dirty”. The Clean Coast Index presented Los Hornos beach in “Clean” and the other three beaches in “Moderate”. For the Dangerous Goods Index, it is evident that Tres Cruces beach is in “Class III”, Los Hornos beach in “Class V” and the other two beaches in “Class IV”. It is concluded that quality indices based on marine waste allow the beaches of Tacna, Peru to be classified, showing in Los Palos the greatest impact due to plastic waste.