The expansion of aquaculture in Northern Patagonia’s fjords has drawn attention to the issue of marine plastic pollution. As in other maritime sectors, aquaculture operations rely on a variety of plastic materials, ranging from large-scale infrastructure to smaller, short-term use items. This study examines the occurrence and spatial distribution of plastics associated with aquaculture activities along 596 km of coastline in the Los Lagos and Aysén regions.
Coastal surveys showed that only 32 of 136 sectors contained such debris, with polystyrene buoys being the most frequently recorded item. Drift modelling was applied to simulate potential transport pathways and identify accumulation areas; however, differences between modelled and observed data highlighted both the complexity of debris dispersal in fjord environments and the challenges of current predictive approaches.
These findings suggest opportunities for strengthening traceability systems, improving reporting of gear loss, and refining regulatory and management tools. By integrating field data with hydrodynamic modelling, this research provides a foundation for developing targeted strategies to reduce plastic leakage from aquaculture, supporting the transition to more circular and accountable marine practices.