TACKLING MARINE DEBRIS IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Nowadays, marine debris that are discharges from the vessels and other source, including the trash as well as the lost fishing gear, is seriously contributing to the ongoing spoiling of the beaches and fouling of the seafloor and surface waters; in addition to that, it causes significant harm to the marine mammals and other negative effects.

Regretfully, the existing domestic laws and international conventions that are intended to provide the due control of the discharge of marine debris, have not been too successful, and one of the reasons for that was that the laws provided little incentive to the changes in the behavior.

The authors of the present publication have made an attempt to properly identify the established ways of reduction of the wastes, decrease in the disposal of waste at marine ports, and also to strengthen the whole regulatory framework towards a zero-discharge in the environment of the sea. The progress in this field will mainly depend on a commitment to the sustained funding and also on the appropriate support.

The relevant authorities should target research in order to get to the sound understanding of the sources, associated fates and potential impacts of marine debris by means of the planning and prioritization of the related activities, and also provide the required support to the establishment of the rigorous protocols allowing to monitor at a broad variety of scales.