UNEP Regional Seas Programme, Marine Litter And Abandoned Fishing Gear

UNEP Regional Seas Programme, Marine Litter And Abandoned Fishing GearBy: Regional Seas Coordinating Office, UNEP, Nairobi; April 2005A. THE REGIONAL SEAS PROGRAMMEUNEPs Regional Seas Programme, initiated in 1974, provides a legal, administrative, substantive and financial framework for the implementation of Agenda 21, and its chapter 17 on oceans in particular. The Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD, Johannesburg 9/2002) also focuses on the issue of oceans, seas, islands and coastal areas as critical elements for global food security and for sustaining economic prosperity. It restates that sustainable development of the oceans requires effective coordination and co-operation, at the global and regional levels, and between relevant bodies. The Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans provide a platform for the implementation of this concept. The UNEPs Regional Seas Programme is based on regional Action Plans, related to a common body of water. These plans are usually adopted by high-level intergovernmental meetings and implemented, in most cases, in the framework of a legally binding Regional Seas Convention and its specific protocols, under the authority of the respective Contracting Parties or Intergovernmental Meetings.Currently, seventeen regions are covered by adopted Action Plans: Thirteen regional Action Plans have been established under the auspices of UNEP: The Wider Caribbean (Cartagena Convention), East Africa (Nairobi Convention), East Asia (COBSEA), Mediterranean (Barcelona Convention), North-West Pacific (NOWPAP), West and Central Africa (Abidjan Convention), are directly administered by UNEP and the Black Sea (Bucharest Convention), the ROPME Sea Area (Kuwait Convention region), North-East Pacific (Antigua Convention), Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (Jeddah Convention), South Asia (SAS SACEP), South-East Pacific (CPPS, Lima Convention) and South Pacific (SPREP Noumea Convention), which are independently administered by their regional secretariats. Similar independent regional programmes and agreements are in place in the Antarctic (CCMLAR), the Arctic (PAME), the Baltic Sea (Helsinki Convention, HELCOM), the Caspian (Teheran Convention) and North-East Atlantic (Oslo Paris Convention, OSPAR). Plans for a new programme in the South-West Atlantic are under consideration.Altogether, more than 140 countries participate in at least one Regional Seas Action Plan and/or conventions aiming for sustainable use and management of the ocean and coastal areas.The Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans serve two major objectives:1. As a principal platform for regional implementation of global conventions, MEAs (Multilateral Environmental Agreements) and global programmes or initiatives that is, to provide the UN agencies or global programmes an existing regional mechanism through which they could implement their activities on a regional scale; and2. as a regional platform for co-ordination of activities that will contribute to sustainable development of the shared marine and coastal environment.In addition the individual Regional Seas Programmes increase both regional and inter-regional collaboration by promoting horizontal ties among the Regional Seas Programmes and partner programmes; strengthening their co-operation with international organizations; and forging new partnerships. The most important partner programmes and organizations are: The Global Programme of Action (GPA) for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (LBA) The International Maritime Organization (IMO) The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) The Global Environment Facility (GEF) The biodiversity conventions and programmes (CBD, CMS, CITES, Ramsar) The chemical conventions (Basel, PICs, POPs, BAT/BEP, etc.) Atmosphere and Climate Change Conventions (Ozone, UNFCCC) The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) The Marine Mammal Action Plan (MMAP) The Global Invasive Alien Species Programme (GISP) The International Coral Reef Initiatives (ICRI) and other Coral Reef programmes such as ICRAN, GCRMN and others. The Global International Waters Assessment (GIWA) The World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) The Small Island Developing States Programme of Action (SIDS/POA) Bi-lateral donor governmentsAs mentioned, each of the RSPs Action Plans is based on the respective regions particular environmental concerns and challenges, as well as its socio-economic and political situation. It may cover issues ranging from chemical wastes and coastal development to oil spill preparedness and response or the conservation of marine species and ecosystems. However, all Regional Seas Programmes evolve around a common axis and their identified shared priorities include: Land-based sources of marine and coastal pollution Ship-generated marine pollution (oil, chemicals, litter, invasive species) Increased urbanization and coastal development causing destruction of ecosystems and habitats Conservation and management of marine and coastal ecosystems Integrated Coastal Area Management (ICAM) and Integrated Coastal Area and River Basin Management (ICARM) Over-exploitation and depletion of living marine resources, including fisheries Monitoring, reporting and assessment of the marine environmentA decision of the 22nd UNEP Governing Council (Nairobi, February, 2003) set out the elements of a new global strategy for the Regional Seas Programmes. The strategy is based on the central idea that the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans should, first and foremost, be used as regional instruments contributing to sustainable development. The Strategic Directions for 2004-2007 were later reaffirmed and developed by the 5th Global Meeting of the Regional Seas, Nairobi, November 2003, and then formally endorsed by the chairpersons/representatives of the COPs and IGMs at the 6th Global Meeting, Istanbul, November/December 2004.The new global strategic directions identify actions to be implemented during 2004-2007 to enhance the RSP at the global level, while continuing the implementation of the action programmes of the individual RSPs as agreed upon by their governing bodies. They provide an opportunity to improve efficiency, individually and collectively in the RSCAPs, increase co-operation, and incorporate new elements in future programmes of work.The following are the new strategic elements or directions:1. Increase the Regional Seas Programmes contribution to sustainable development through the enhancement of local, national, regional and global partnerships with relevant social, economic and environmental stakeholders, building upon the WSSD Plan of Implementation and the goals associated with the Millennium Declaration within the context of the Regional Seas mandate.2. Enhance sustainability and effectiveness of the Regional Seas Programmes through increasing country ownership, translating Regional Seas conventions and protocols into national legislation, promoting compliance and enforcement mechanisms, involving civil society and the private sector, building capacities, ensuring viable financial arrangements, as well as developing assessment/evaluation procedures, where appropriate.3. Enhance the Regional Seas Programmes visibility and political impact in global and regional policy setting, through the establishment of a strengthened Regional Seas Alliance, addressing emerging and priority issues, promoting a joint information policy, and ensuring participation and promotion of Regional Seas in the relevant regional and global fora.4. Support knowledge-based policy-making, development and implementation of relevant environmental legislation, improve knowledge on the state of the marine environment and enhance public awareness by contributing to the establishment/strengthening of appropriate national and regional monitoring and periodic assessment of the marine and coastal environment.5. Increase the use of the Regional Seas Programme as a platform for developing common regional objectives, promoting synergies and coordinated regional implementation of relevant MEAs, global and regional initiatives and responsibilities of United Nations Agencies, such as IMO, IAEA, IOC of UNESCO and FAO, as well as other international actors as a contribution to the sustainable management of the coastal and marine environment.6. Promote the development of a universal vision and integrated management, based on the ecosystem approach, of priorities and concerns related to the coastal and marine environment in Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans, initiating proactive, creative and innovative partnerships and networks.The new strategy encourages the Regional Seas Programmes to increase monitoring and assessment activities; facilitate a science-based decision-making system, including participation in the project of the United Nations General Assembly known as the Global Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment (GMA) and of the Global International Waters Assessment (GIWA); to promote the ecosystem-based management of the marine and coastal environment; and to promote Large Marine Ecosystems within the Regional Seas assessment and management areas linked to the Regional Seas Conventions.Further, the strategy identifies a number of specific activities to be undertaken at the level of the individual Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans as well as at the level of the Regional Seas Coordinating Office at UNEP Headquarters. RS provides a platform for developing common regional objectives, promoting synergies and coordinated regional implementation of relevant MEAs, global and regional initiatives and responsibilities of United Nations Agencies, such as the GPA, IMO, IAEA/MEL, IOC of UNESCO and FAO, as well as of other international actors as a contribution to the sustainable management of the coastal and marine environment.B. MARINE LITTERB.1 The ProblemMarine litter is found in all sea areas of the world not only in densely populated regions, but also in remote places far away from any obvious sources. Marine litter travels over long distances with ocean currents and winds. 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. Marine litter has a truly global distribution and can, thus, be categorized as a global marine and coastal problem. Marine litter originates from many sources and has a wide spectrum of environmental, economic, safety, health and cultural impacts. 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. This negative trend has been confirmed by a number of studies in various regions.Despite efforts made internationally, regionally and nationally, there are indications that the marine litter problem keeps growing worse. As long as the input of non-degradable or slowly degradable litter into the marine environment continues at the current rate, the result will be increased quantities of marine litter in the coastal and marine environments. Deficiencies in the implementation and enforcement of existing international, regional and national regulations and standards that could improve the situation, combined with a lack of awareness among main stakeholders and the general public, are other major reasons that the marine litter problem not only persists but appears to be increasing worldwide.B.2 Sources of Marine LitterMarine litter comes from both sea-based sources and land-based sources, and it is obvious that measures to reduce or prevent marine litter in the marine and coastal environment have to be taken in many communities, as part of a large number of activities over a wide range of societal sectors, and by many individuals in many different circumstances.The main sea-based sources of marine litter are merchant shipping, ferries and cruise liners; fishing vessels; military fleets and research vessels; pleasure craft; offshore oil and gas platforms; and aquaculture installations.The main land-based sources of marine litter are municipal landfills (waste dumps) located on the coast; riverine transport of waste from landfills and other sources; discharges of untreated municipal sewage and storm water; industrial facilities; medical waste; and tourism (recreational visitors, beach-goers).B.3 QuantitiesDue to the lack of systematic and comprehensive surveys on the quantities of marine litter on both global and regional scales, only selected information from different parts of the world, collected through a literature search, can be presented here.In 1997, the U.S. Academy of Sciences estimated the total input of marine litter into the oceans, worldwide, at approximately 6.4 million tonnes per year, of which nearly 5.6 million tonnes was estimated to come from merchant shipping. According to other calculations, some 8 million items of marine litter have been estimated to enter oceans and seas every day, about 5 million of which (solid waste) are thrown overboard or lost from ships. Furthermore, it has been estimated that over 13,000 pieces of plastic litter are floating on every sq. km of ocean today. In the central Pacific gyre, there was found to be, in 2002, six kg of plastic for every kg of plankton near the surface.The Ocean Conservancy (a US NGO) has been organising every year in September International Coastal Cleanup campaigns. In 2002 over 390,000 volunteers in 100 countries took partBeb, can you please verify and amend accordingly? in these campaigns. They removed marine litter from more than 21,000 kilometres of coastline and waterways collecting more than 6.2 million pieces of marine litter, weighing over 4,000 tonnes. Almost 58 percent of the coastal marine litter found could be attributed to shoreline and recreational activities, such as beach-picnicking and general littering. Many other such cleanup operations are carried out every year by thousands of school children, volunteers and local authorities in a large number of countries in all parts of the world. During one decade (19922002), over 73,000 m3 of marine litter had been gathered on some 300 km of rocky shores on the Swedish west coasts (including thousands of islands and islets), i.e. the easternmost part of the North Sea. The average annual amount of litter cleaned up on those beaches is 6,0008,000 m3 (20-26 m3 per km).Using figures from the North Sea and the waters around Australia, as well as from other places, it has been estimated that up to 70 percent of the marine litter that enters the sea ends up on the seabed, whereas half of the remaining amount (i.e. 15%) is found on beaches and the rest (another 15%) floats on the water surface.B.4 Effects of Marine LitterMarine litter is an environmental, economic, health and aesthetic problem. Marine litter kills, injures and causes pain and suffering. It is a vicious killer of wildlife. Entanglement and ingestion are the primary kinds of direct damage to wildlife caused by marine litter. Sea Life Surveys scientists estimate that globally, more than one million birds and 100,000 marine mammals and sea turtles die each year from entanglement in, or ingestion of, plastics. Other threats to wildlife and the environment from marine litter include smothering of the seabed, and disturbance of habitats from mechanical beach cleaning. Plastic litter is increasingly believed to be a source of persistent toxic substances. Pieces of marine litter can also transport invasive species between seas. Medical and sanitary waste constitutes a health hazard and can seriously injure people. Every year, marine litter entails great economic costs and losses to people and communities around the world. It spoils, fouls and destroys the beauty of the sea and the coastal zone.Damage to people, property and livelihoods caused by marine litter can be grouped into a number of general categories. These include damage to fisheries, fishing boats and gear, damage to cooling water intakes in power stations, contamination of beaches (requiring cleaning operations), contamination of commercial harbours and marinas (demanding cleaning operations), and contamination of coastal grazing land, causing injury to livestock. Problems with propeller fouling, blocked intake pipes and damaged drive shafts have been reported. According to two studies made in 1976 and 1978 in the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska, 4060 percent of bottom trawls collected plastic and metal debris. Marine litter-related damage to people also includes safety risks at sea (demanding rescue services) due to fouling of propellers, etc., as well as damage to peoples health (injuries, disease) from litter on beaches and in bathing water, including medical waste.B.5 Costs and Economic DamageOnly 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.In a report published by KIMO, it was estimated that the annual cleaning cost to 56 local communities in the United Kingdom were US$3.9 million. This cleaning campaign covered 900 km of the coastline and 10,000 tonnes of waste were collected. .On the basis of this information it is easy to extrapolate that the cost for cleaning the coastlines of Europe or even the world would be enormous. Swedish municipalities on the countrys west coast (facing the North Sea) spend an estimated US$1.6 million on cleaning beaches, each year (involving only about 3,600 km). In 1999, Orange County in California collected garbage every week from a six-mile (nearly 10 km) stretch of beach at a cost to taxpayers of US$350,000. Other counties spent even more. About US$12 million was spent in Korea during 2003 on issues related to marine litter.According to the KIMO report, the total cost of marine litter in Shetland (the islands in the extreme north-east of the UK), assuming that all parties affected were hit equally badly, could be in the range of US$9.9 million per year. The cost to the fishing industry could be US$8.7 million. Bearing in mind that the Shetland coastline represents only a fraction of the European total the costs could run into billions if this approximation was extended to cover coastal communities throughout Europe. In Shetland, 92 percent of the fishermen reported recurring problems with accumulated litter in nets: 69 % reported catches contaminated by litter, and 92 % had snagged their nets on litter on the seabed. Many also reported fouled propellers and blocked intake pipes. On average, they spent 1-2 hours a week clearing litter from nets. The catch, nets and other equipment are contaminated by oil containers, paint tins, and oil filters Each time they may cost up to US$3,500 in lost revenue. Lost items, such as wires and old nets, are collected from the seabed and may damage nets. A fouled propeller can cost up to US$500 for hiring a diver to entangle it, and much fishing time can be lost. It is estimated that each boat could lose between US$10,000 and US$50,000 per year due to the effects and presence of marine litter. If 50% of the Shetland fishing fleet was affected in the same way, the cost to the local fishing industry could be between US$874,000 and US$4.37 million. The cos