Tackling Marine Litter in the Atlantic Area

The Marine Litter Environmental Threat

• Marine litter covers any solid material (plastic, wood, glass, rubber, etc.) that has been deliberately discarded, or unintentionally lost on beaches, shores or at sea, including materials transported into the marine environment from land by rivers, draining or sewage systems or winds (OSPAR).

• Marine litter is a global concern affecting the oceans and the coast that impacts on marine organisms and ecosystems, threatens human health and safety, and causes economic losses and aesthetic problems.

• Tackling marine litter demands a cross-sectorial and multilevel approach, involving public and private stakeholders as well as NGOs and society.

• Consistent approaches to monitor, record, map and remove marine litter are needed and demand collaborative work and coordination.