Tag: plastic debris

Our oceans are currently facing three major challenges: climate change, overfishing and pollution. Plastic pollution in particular is increasing and has received international attention from governments, media and large sections of the public. In order to mitigate this problem, technology might give the solution.

This summer, Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators is working with cruise operators on identifying how the expedition cruise industry can drastically reduce the use of disposable plastics on ships. AECO will also continue to engage thousands of cruise passengers in beach cleanups in the Arctic.

In late May, the European Commission put forward a proposal to ban 10 single-use plastic products most often found on Europe's beaches and seas. However, a number of European countries have already gone ahead with their own laws to combat plastic pollution.

The UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson revealed an ambitious plan on 22 June, to bring together all of the Government’s international oceans work under a single strategy for the first time. The strategy will provide a blueprint for international action towards the oceans that supports the long-term prosperity of the marine environment.

Plastic pollution is, without any doubt, causing big problems. However, up until recently, not many were aware of the full scale of the problem. Thus, by using drones the size of plastic pollution can be measured more easily. This will inform more people, and will provide solutions to tackle it.

UN Environment and the European Commission will cooperate through the 2018 Oceans Roadmap 2.0 to address the threats of pollution and marine litter, in line with UN Environment and EC international commitments and the implementation of ocean related Sustainable Development Goals.

The Ministry of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping of Mauritius is finalising regulations to ban disposal of plastic at sea. Namely, the country will give legal force to Annex V of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) which was signed by Mauritius in 1995. 

A recent report by UN Environment, examining the state of plastic pollution in 2018, finds a surging momentum in global efforts to address plastic pollution. The first-of-its-kind accounting finds plastic bag bans, if properly enforced, can effectively counter one of the causes of plastic overuse.

A new Norwegian collaboration, including the Institute of Marine Research, shipowner Torvald Klaveness, Kongsberg and the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association, seeks to develop a pilot project with the aim of mapping marine plastic and other environmental parameters vital to the health of the oceans.

Marine litter, including plastics and microplastics, are caused by land-based sources in massive quantities but can also originate from ships. An IMO Regional Workshop on MARPOL Annex V and Port Reception Facilities for the ASEAN Region aimed to raise awareness on marine litters and improve implementation of IMO garbage regulations.