At the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, South Africa and Costa Rica shared their national efforts to tackle ship noise and marine plastic pollution, highlighting solutions and lessons learned to support global ocean health.
During a joint side event at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice (9-13 June), South Africa and Costa Rica officials presented their experiences in tackling ship noise and marine plastic pollution, sharing lessons learned with others facing similar challenges.
Underwater radiated noise (URN) from ships disrupts vital behaviours in marine life, including communication, navigation, foraging and reproduction. South Africa recently hosted the first-ever regional workshop on URN, supported by IMO’s GloNoise Partnership, bringing together representatives from 21 countries. The country also launched its first environmental impact assessment focused on ship noise in Algoa Bay, with plans to expand nationally to gather baseline data for policy development.
Additionally, South Africa has introduced draft regulations for the environmental management of offshore bunkering, identified as a major contributor to underwater noise. Shipowners that want to adopt low-noise technologies but are hindered by the cost will be able to explore financing options.
The increase of shipping traffic has been strongly correlated with a 70% decline in the population of the African penguins. It has also affected our commercial fish such as yellowfin tuna and hake. When our commercial fish is affected, it affects our food security and our ability to thrive as a nation.
…said Mbalenhle Simphiwe Golding, Acting CEO of the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).
Moreover, in Costa Rica, efforts to combat marine plastic pollution are being advanced through IMO’s Marine Litter Programme, including GloLitter, which is jointly implemented by IMO and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The country aims to establish a fishing gear reception facility along its South Pacific coastline for discarded fishing gear and marine litter.
The partnership involves the National Coast Guard to collect the discarded fishing gear, as well as a private recycling company to transform the discarded plastic into reusable material such as benches and tables.
We are really eager to raise awareness with the fishers, tour operators, coastal communities about IMO conventions such as MARPOL as well as FAO’s voluntary guidance on the marking of fishing gear.
…said Paola Acuña Chacón, Legal Advisor, Costa Rica Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
“By implementing respective IMO conventions, the IMO Action Plan on Marine Plastics and FAO voluntary guidance, we will have a strong legal framework to fight marine plastic pollution across Central America,” Paola Acuña Chacón highlighted.
Furthermore, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to environmental protection through global regulations, standards and capacity-building pointing out the importance of IMO’s decades-long regulatory framework in protecting the marine environment.
Agnès Pannier-Runacher, France’s Minister for the Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forestry, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, also welcomed the initiatives.
The event was co-hosted by IMO, France, Costa Rica, South Africa, FAO and UNDP and opened by IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez and FAO Director-General QU Dongyu.
