Tiding Over Pollution: Coastal Projects to Combat Marine Plastic Waste

Marine plastic litter (MPL) prevention and reduction are the prime priorities of coastal development projects globally. The efforts are focused on addressing sea-borne MPL sources such as abandoned fishing equipment and poorly managed waste while promoting circular economy strategies and sustainable waste management systems. Some of the major efforts that have been initiated are the European Union's "Marine Litter-Free Toolkit" which provides waste prevention, monitoring, and removal tools and the Pacific Ocean Litter Project which utilizes data-driven strategies to identify where the pollution lies. The IMO has also committed to zero plastic waste discharge by ships by 2025. Coastal businesses in India are embracing these global tactics to combat plastic pollution, while maintaining marine life diversity and boosting sustainable tourism. These efforts point towards the significance of collaborative work to encourage cleaner oceans for the future. Source: FNB News, SPREP, IMO