IMO announces plan to achieve zero plastic pollution from ships by 2030

The Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response agreed last week to an updated draft of the 2026 Strategy and Action Plan on Marine Litter to tackle plastic pollution from ships, including fishing vessels.

Once adopted, the 2026 Strategy and Action Plan will supersede IMO’s 2021 marine plastics strategy and 2025 action plan, bringing them together in a single, streamlined approach. The draft is looking to be adopted by the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 84) when it convenes from 27 April to 1 May 2026.

These latest developments align with the efforts of the OceanLitter Programme to support 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 across the shipping and fisheries sectors.

With the Sub-Committee advancing more targeted workstreams addressing marine litter from ships, including promoting the implementation of fishing-gear marking systems and the FAO Voluntary Guidelines on Marking of Fishing Gear to be submitted for approval to MEPC 84, the importance of the OceanLitter Programme is highlighted through its efforts with partner countries to lead the change on national, regional and global levels and enforcing international conventions and regulations on marine plastic litter.