Flotsam

• On May 28, 2025, a shipwreck off the Kochi coast led to the emergence of plastic debris along the western coastline of Kanniyakumari district.

• The debris, including containers carrying hazardous materials, washed ashore along the coast of Kanniyakumari, Dhanushkodi, and Arichalmunai in the Rameshwaram coast.

• The debris trail spread to other coastal areas, including Neerody, Eraviputhenthurai, Enayam, Chinnathurai, Midalam, Kadiyapattinam, Simon Colony, Melamanakudy, Erayumanthurai, and Chothavilai.

• The district administration, in coordination with the Revenue and Fisheries Departments and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, initiated a response.

• About 80 bags of plastic pellets and over 500 kg of loose nurdles have been removed so far.

• The district administration has formed a team to monitor the accumulation of debris.

• The fishing community feels that the incident has not received adequate attention from the government due to its impact on marine life and livelihood.

• The Gulf of Mannar region, which hosts coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and endangered species, should be monitored for long-term study.

• The absence of a mechanism to remove the plastic pellets from coastal areas makes the clean-up difficult and the only option left is to study the future impact on the marine ecosystem.