UNEP Publications

Recognizing the worsening situation with marine litter worldwide, UNEP, in collaboration with FAO, IOC of UNESCO and other partners, has initiated preparation of a few publications dealing with marine litter. In 2009, several reports were published and presented at global ocean-related meetings such as the World Ocean Conference 2009 and the 17th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD).

1. “Marine Litter: A Global Challenge” [ PDF 6.58MB ]

This book, prepared by a team of well-known authors (Ljubomir Jeftic, Seba Sheavly and Ellik Adler), contains current information with regional assessments and action plans for the management of marine litter in 12 regional seas, including NOWPAP region. It also contains recommendations for addressing the problems associated with marine litter worldwide.

2. “Guidelines on the Use of Market-based Instruments to Address the Problem of Marine Litter” [ PDF 3.72MB ]

Prepared in cooperation with the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), this report was designed as a practical reference for decision makers and relevant organizations on how to select and apply economic tools (such as incentives for fishermen for removal of debris, plastic bag charges, deposit-refund programs, etc.) to address problems associated with marine litter. This report will also assist policymakers in deciding whether the conditions are favorable and which economic tools could potentially be effective. The proposed market-based instruments might be applied in dealing with marine litter problems in any region, including NOWPAP. The UNEP ROAP press-release for this publication can be found here.

3. “UNEP/IOC Guidelines on Survey and Monitoring of Marine Litter” [ PDF 2.66MB ]

This document, prepared by UNEP and IOC UNESCO, developed a set of standardized operational guidelines for beach, benthic and floating litter assessments. Simplified guidelines, which can be used during beach cleanup campaigns, are also included.

4. “Abandoned, Lost or otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG)” [ PDF 2.47MB ]

This document, prepared under a collaborative partnership between FAO and UNEP Regional Seas Programme, profiles a variety of measures currently being taken to reduce ALDFG. It reviews the magnitude and composition of ALDFG and, while noting that information is not comprehensive and does not allow any global estimates, suggests that gill nets and fishing traps/pots may be the most common type. It concludes by making a number of recommendations for future action to reduce ALDFG. A short newspaper article on this issue can be found here.  

Recent Projects Worldwide

1. “Plastiki Expedition”

On 20 March 2010, David de Rothschild and a crew of experts, scientists and creatives started sailing out 12,000 nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco to Sydney in a boat called “Plastiki” made out of plastic bottles and recycled waste products. Their mission is to beat waste by thinking smart and showcasing how refuse can be used as a resource thus inspiring sustainable solutions for a better way of living. The crew is being sailing through the Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch, a floating man-made disaster twice the size of Texas, USA.

2. “Project Kaisei”

After 30 days at sea, with 25 people aboard, the team returned with realization of the importance of our ocean. To find out vivid experiences of individual participants of this 4 week-long expedition, try 'Kaisei' blog and 'New Horison' blog. In the summer of 2010, Project Kaisei will launch its second Expedition to the North Pacific Gyre, where it will send multiple vessels to continue marine debris research, and in particular, to test an array of marine debris collection systems. Debris collected will be used to further study the feasibility of converting this to fuel or other useable material.

Ocean Conservancy

In partnership with organizations and individuals across the globe, Ocean Conservancy (OC) promotes healthy and diverse ocean ecosystems. Especially, OC-initiated International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) engages people to remove trash and debris from the world’s beaches and waterways. A 2010 report entitled “Trash Travels: from our hands to the sea, around the globe, and through time” presents data recorded by nearly 500,000 volunteers in 108 countries and locations and 45 US states during the 2009 ICC.

Clean Up the World

Put Your Group on the 2010 Global Environmental Map!

Clean Up the World is a global campaign that inspires communities to clean up, fix up and conserve the environment. Held in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme, it mobilizes an estimated 35 million people across 120 countries.

If you want to join Clean Up the World and help save the environment, you can get involved by registering your group or organization and its activity and you will appear on the global Clean Up the World Map.  

Understanding the Economic Benefits and Costs of Controlling Marine Debris in the APEC Region [PDF, 4MB]

Produced by the National Marine Science Centre, Australia, this report was designed to assist the understanding of the economic costs and benefits of controlling marine debris and empower governments, industries and the communities to take action. It also deals with the market based instruments (MBIs), replacing plastic packaging with paper, applying litter traps in river and estuarine areas, and case studies for China, ROK and Japan.