PRO-SEAS Project

Plastic Reduction in the Oceans: Sustaining and Enhancing Actions on Sea-based Sources

• The development of the Plastic Reduction in the Oceans: Sustaining and Enhancing Actions on Sea-based Sources (PRO-SEAS) arose from the success of four countries under the GloLitter Partnerships project: Costa Rica, Jamaica, Kenya and Vanuatu. These countries span three Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs), including the Caribbean Sea LME, the Pacific-Central American Coastal LME and the Somali Coastal Current LME.

• These four countries were selected as centers of transformation in addressing sea-based source of marine plastic litter due to their exhibited leadership and ownership around key initiatives at national and regional scales during the GloLitter Partnerships Project. The global scope of this project is needed to address the issues in a meaningful way due to the transboundary nature of the problem.

• PRO-SEAS was designed to address the following barriers:

1. 1. Inadequate implementation of sea-based marine plastic litter policy and regulatory frameworks;
   2. Inadequate information, tools and systems available to effectively manage sea-based marine plastic litter, including a lack of environmentally sound waste management systems for plastic waste generated at sea and recovered sea-based marine plastic litter;
   3. Lack of incentives and practical opportunities to reduce use of plastic materials used in the shipping and fisheries sectors and to promote a circular economy for plastics and;
   4. Poor knowledge and awareness among key stakeholders on sea-based marine plastic litter and potential solutions.

Total Budget

GEF Trust Fund provides $7.1 million USD for its execution. This is complemented by $67 million USD of in-kind support co-financing provided by project partners.

Geographic Focus

The project focuses on the following countries and their associated LMEs: Costa Rica, Jamaica, Kenya and Vanuatu

Achievements

MARPOL Annex V e-learnining course

Projected Outcomes

• Legal, policy and institutional frameworks to reduce sea-based marine plastic litter at national, regional and global levels are strengthened.

• Systems, facilities, tools and information to effectively manage sea-based marine plastic litter are improved.

• Practical opportunities and incentives for environmentally sound management of sea-based marine plastic litter is identified and promoted.

• Knowledge of sea-based marine plastic litter and potential solutions to reduce and eliminate sea-based marine plastic litter are generated and shared among key stakeholders.

The PRO-SEAS Project is supported by the Global Environment Facility.