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Marine Litter Activity in the NOWPAP Region
What is Marine Litter?
Marine litter (sometimes called marine debris) is any persistent,
manufactured or processed solid material, which is discarded,
disposed of or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment.
Marine litter consists of mostly very slowly degradable waste
items such as plastic, polystyrene, metals and glass.
Marine litter is found on the beaches and shores, on the water
surface, in the water column and on the seabed. It can be found
near the source of input but also can be transported over a long
distances with sea currents and winds.
Marine litter causes marine environmental, economic, health and
aesthetic problems, including possible transfer of toxic
substances and invasive species, destruction of marine habitats
and loss of biodiversity. It also threatens marine life through
entanglement, suffocation and ingestion as well as poses a risk
to human health and life. (Find more at
http://marine-litter.gpa.unep.org)
Marine litter entering the marine and coastal environment has
multiple sources that can be divided into two major sources:
ship-based (sea-based) sources and land-based sources.
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Main sea-based sources |
Main land-based sources |
- Merchant shipping, ferries and cruise liners;
- Fishing vessels;
- Military fleets and research vessels;
- Pleasure craft;
- Offshore oil and gas platforms;
- Aquaculture installations;
- Waterway recreational activities (such as diving
and marinas)
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- Municipal landfills (waste dumps) located on the
coast;
- Riverine transport of waste from landfills or
other sources along rivers and other inland
waterways (canals);
- Discharge of untreated municipal sewage and
storm water (including occasional overflows);
- Industrial facilities (solid waste from
landfills and untreated water); and
- Tourism (recreational visitors to the coast and
beach goers)
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