IMO's work to address marine debris, plastics and ... · IMO’s work on marine debris, plastics and microplastics covers several areas ... Protection Committee (MEPC) by resolution

IMO's work to address marine debris, plastics and microplastics

Dr. Stefan Micallef Director, MARINE ENVIRONMENT DIVISION

Presentation at ICP 17, 13-17 June 2016

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Shipping affects us all

• More than 80% of world trade carried by sea

• Raw materials and commodities • Finished goods • Food • Fuel

• Underpins global economy

• Safe, secure and environmentally friendly

transport system

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• A specialized agency of the United Nations • The IMO Convention was adopted in 1948 and IMO first met in 1959 • 171 member States • Develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping • Safe, secure and efficient shipping on cleaner oceans

International Maritime Organization

MARINE ENVIRONMENT DIVISION

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Technical work of IMO - Environmental issues

Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC)

Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR) Evaluation of safety and pollution hazards of liquid substances in bulk transported by ships; control and management of harmful aquatic organisms in ships' ballast water and sediments, and biofouling; prevention of air pollution from ships; consideration of impact of Black Carbon on the Arctic; and pollution preparedness, response and cooperation for oil and hazardous and noxious substances.

Sub-Committees under MEPC and MSC Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (III) Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC)

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London Convention and Protocol Dumping of wastes and other matter at sea

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Harm by marine debris

In addition to the environmental and health problem posed by marine litter, garbage and plastics is a costly and dangerous problem for shipping, as a navigational hazard and from entanglement in propellers, rudders etc.

Photo credit: NOAA Marine Debris Photo credit: Henrick Lindström Programme website

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IMO’s work on marine debris, plastics and microplastics covers several areas

• International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, (now known universally as MARPOL)

• MARPOL Annex V - Prevention of pollution by garbage from ships • London Convention and Protocol

• Prevention of dumping of wastes at sea

• Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP)

• Understanding the science

• Working with others stakeholders

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MARPOL Annex V - Prevention of pollution by garbage from ships

• Revised MARPOL Annex V was adopted in 2011 by IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) by resolution MEPC.201(62)

• Entered into force on 1 January 2013

• MARPOL Annex V prohibits the discharge of all types of garbage into the sea from ships except in the cases explicitly permitted under the Annex

• Provides a ban on discharging or dumping plastics from ships.

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Flag States

• Ensuring that their ships are in compliance with regulations

Port States

• Verifying that ships calling their ports are in compliance

Coastal States • Special rights and obligations in terms of its EEZ, contiguous zone, and

Territorial Sea to safeguard its resources

• Right of innocent passage

General Framework For Implementation/Enforcement – whose role?

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Special Areas under MARPOL

• Adoption of special mandatory methods for the prevention of sea pollution may be required due to technical reasons, relating to their oceanographical and ecological condition and sea traffic

• Under MARPOL, these areas are provided with a higher level of protection than other areas of the sea

• Currently eight sea areas are designated as Special Areas under MARPOL Annex V:

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• the Mediterranean Sea (1 May 2009)

• the Baltic Sea (1 October 1989) • the Black Sea (not entered into

effect) • the Red Sea (not entered into effect) • the “Gulfs” area (1 August 2008)

• the North Sea (18 February 1991) • the Wider Caribbean region

including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea (a May 2011)

• the Antarctic area (17 March 1992)

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Regulating dumping of wastes at sea – London Convention and Protocol

• The 1972 London Convention regulates the dumping of wastes and other matter at sea

• In 1996, the more stringent London Protocol was adopted, prohibiting all dumping except for possibly acceptable wastes on the so-called "reverse list"

• The extent and nature of marine litter in the waste streams regulated under the LC/LP is being reviewed in a study commissioned under the GPML

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Joint Group of Experts on Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection - GESAMP • Sponsored by nine UN agencies

• ‘Sources, fate and effects of microplastics in the

marine environment: a global assessment’ (Working Group 40)

• GESAMP has developed unique experience,

providing one of the first, comprehensive global assessments of microplastics in the marine environment (Reports & Studies No.90, published in 2015)

• Second report in June/July 2016.

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Working with other organizations and stakeholders

• Several of the issues related to

marine litter fall within the boundaries of several mandates and organizations

• IMO is one of the partners in the

UNEP-managed Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML)

• Co-leading on sea-based sources of

marine litter together with FAO.

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Thank you for listening www.imo.org