A collective initiative housing three projects to reduce Sea-Based Sources of Marine Plastic Litter

The OceanLitter Programme supports developing countries, including Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries, in identifying opportunities for the prevention and reduction of marine plastic litter from sea-based sources.

The programme is jointly implemented by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), providing support to both the shipping and fisheries sectors.

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GloLitter Partnerships Project
GloLitter Partnerships Project

First global project focused on marine plastic litter from sea-based sources.

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RegLitter Project
RegLitter Project

Regional project tackling sea-based sources of marine plastic litter in Asia.

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PRO-SEAS Project
PRO-SEAS Project

Tackling sea-based sources of marine plastic litter in four countries with large marine ecosystems.

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The Issue

Marine plastic litter, including plastic garbage from ships, presents a significant problem in our ocean. It is a transboundary issue. As plastics can float for years, dumping of these materials at sea poses a serious threat to wildlife, marine ecosystems and human health.

Some scientists are warning that by 2050 the quantity of plastics in the oceans will outweigh fish.

Our Solution

International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)

  • The IMO has been regulating marine plastic litter for the last 50 years, from the dumping of waste at sea to discharges from ships.
  • On 2 November 1973 the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) was adopted. MARPOL Annex V came into force on 31 December 1988 which generally prohibits the discharge of all garbage into the sea, except as provided otherwise in regulations 4, 5, and 6 of the Annex, which are related to food waste, cargo residues, cleaning agents and additives and animal carcasses.

GloLitter Partnerships Project

  • Plastic garbage generated from shipping and fishing activities was identified as a serious issue that needed addressing.
  • As the first global initiative of its kind dedicated to preventing and reducing sea-based sources of marine plastic litter (SBMPL), in December 2019 the IMO and the FAO launched the GloLitter Partnerships Project, with initial funding coming from the Government of Norway, to help the maritime and fisheries sectors move towards a low-plastics future and fulfil their obligations as signatories to MARPOL Annex V as well as other instruments addressing SBMPL, such as the London Protocol and the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for the Marking of Fishing Gear (VGMFG).

OceanLitter Programme

  • The demand for support from the GloLitter Partnerships Project outgrew the initial provision that engaged with a total of 30 countries across five key regions.
  • This led to the inception of two additional projects (RegLitter and PRO-SEAS) to meet specific regional and national needs.
  • As such all three projects came to be managed under the umbrella of the OceanLitter Programme.

Partnerships under the programme are three-tiered involving global, regional and national level partners, representing government, industry and non-governmental organizations.

Private sector participation is also being established through a Global Industry Alliance (GIA) with partners from major maritime and fisheries companies.

The Impact

  • Partner countries are leading the change on national, regional and global levels and enforcing international conventions and regulations on marine plastic litter.
  • Marine plastic litter originating from the shipping and fisheries sectors is reduced.
  • Knowledge on effective management and prevention of sea-based marine plastic litter among key stakeholder groups is increased.
  • The private sector is further committed to supporting marine plastic litter related initiatives.

By supporting developing countries to implement action plans and infrastructures to support a more sustainable shipping and fishing industry, the OceanLitter Programme is working towards a low-plastics future for our ocean.

Further Reading

  • Under its Action Plan to Address Marine Plastic Litter from Ships, IMO is working with FAO to support the participating countries to tackle marine plastic litter issues on national and regional levels both from shipping and fisheries sectors through the OceanLitter Programme.
  • Click here to find out more about marine litter and here for more information about IMO and its role in protecting the world’s oceans.
  • Information regarding the work undertaken by FAO on responsible fishing operations can be found here.

IMO Conventions

The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships [MARPOL] - Annex V Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter [LC&LP] IMO Action Plan on Marine Plastic Litter

FAO Instruments

FAO Voluntary Guidelines on the Marking of Fishing Gear [VGMFG] FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries