Sources of marine litter

Effects of marine litter

Considering the very slow rate of degradation of most marine litter items, a continuous input of large quantities of marine litter will result in a gradual increase of litter in the coastal and marine environment.

Challenges in preventing and combating marine litter

As long as the input of non degradable litter into the marine environment continues, the result will be increased quantities of marine litter in the coastal and marine environments.

The United Nations Environment Programme and the marine litter challenge

Overview of activities of regional seas programmes on marine litter

Inclusion of marine litter in global and regional environmental assessments

There is a need to differentiate between measures aimed at preventing marine litter at the source and measures taken to deal with marine litter once it is already present in the marine and coastal environment.

Pieces of marine litter can also transport invasive species between seas.

The United States has a number of marine litter and debris activities.

The overall objective of the currently scheduled project is to seek sustainable management of marine litter in the NOWPAP region in line with the sources, quantities and adverse effects of marine litter.

These include assessments of marine litter as a land based pollutant and its impact on critical coastal and marine ecosystems.

Development of guidelines for management of marine litter at the regional and national levels

Marine debris, also referred to as marine litter, is any persistent, manufactured or processed solid material discarded, disposed of or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment. Chapter X.B.

In 2002, over 390,000 volunteers in 100 countries took part in these campaigns. They removed marine litter from more than 21,000 km of coastline and waterways, collecting more than 6.2 million pieces of marine litter, weighing over 4,000 tonnes.

A leaflet on marine litter, entitled Tightening the noose , was also published recently by UNEP. As mentioned earlier, in order to address the global and transboundary problem of marine litter, an interdisciplinary, multisectoral and holistic approach should be taken.

Other threats to the marine and coastal ecosystems from marine litter include smothering of the seabed and disturbance of habitats from mechanical beach cleaning.

Every year, marine litter entails great economic costs and losses to people and communities around the world.

In 2004, UNEP initiated a feasibility study on sustainable management of marine litter (see para. 18 above).

The main results of the UNEP feasibility study on marine litter were published as a separate document.

Marine litter is an environmental, economic, health and aesthetic problem. It kills, injures and causes pain and suffering.

About 12 million was spent in the Republic of Korea during 2003 on issues related to marine litter.

A short overview of activities of the United Nations Environment Programme related to addressing the problem of marine litter

Marine litter originates from many sources and has a wide spectrum of environmental, economic, safety, health and cultural impacts.

Marine litter should be included in global and regional agreements, action plans, initiatives and negotiations and in national legislation.

Insurance companies estimate that a total of 50 million has been awarded for repairs from damage incurred by marine litter.

However measures to reduce or prevent marine litter should be a part of waste management in society as a whole.

Despite efforts made internationally, regionally, nationally and many times locally, there are indications that the marine litter problem keeps growing worse.

A wide range of marine litter related instruments already exist and actions are being taken at the global and regional levels.

Within the broader scope of marine litter, the problem of lost and abandoned fishing gear requires more specific and sectoral solutions.

Assessment of gaps and needs related to marine litter in selected regions and development of activities aimed at improving the situation.

Lost or abandoned fishing gear is a significant and very persistent form of marine litter. It poses a threat to the marine environment, as well as to human life and activities.

In the NOWPAP region therefore the marine litter activity is presently at the development stage, with the aim of initiating work in 2005.

Marine litter has become an issue of concern in the Northwest Pacific region because it is linked to other marine environmental, economic, health and aesthetic problems, including possible transfer of toxic substances and invasive species, destruction of marine habitats and loss of biodiversity.

Studies from various parts of the world have confirmed that marine litter is found everywhere in the marine and coastal environment, from the poles to the equator and from continental coastlines to small remote islands.

For other meanings of litter, see Litter (disambiguation).

Almost 58 per cent of the coastal marine litter found could be attributed to shoreline and recreational activities, such as beach picnicking and general littering.

As marine litter is found in all sea areas of the world, this proposed project would concentrate first on pilot regions that are particularly affected.

A new brochure examines the widespread occurrence of marine litter in areas under the Regional Seas Programme and within the 64 large marine ecosystems around the world, so as to promote integrated management based on ecosystem approaches.

It would also try to develop a platform for cooperation and coordination of activities for the control and management of marine litter on a wider scale.

The following are reports received from individual regional seas programmes on their respective activities vis à vis the problems of marine litter and abandoned fishing gear.

Formulation and implementation of improved solid waste management programmes in small rural communities to prevent litter from escaping into rivers and the marine and coastal environment

The sustainable management of marine litter is a perfect illustration of a global and transboundary marine environmental problem and for this reason it is anticipated that the United Nations system will be instrumental in tackling this global challenge.

Only a few economic assessments have been made of the costs and financial damage caused by marine litter to municipalities or to specific activities such as fisheries.