Page 33 - Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) 2021

MARINE LITTER AND PLASTIC POLLUTION

A large number of ocean stressors vast coastal regions also contribute
are anthropogenic in nature. These hugely to marine plastic pollution.
include ocean acidification and Internationally, several nations have
warming, coastal pollution and put in place legislation in an effort to
subsequent alteration of ecological curb plastic pollution in the oceans.
structures and processes. Moreover, The USA established the Clean Water
stressors may interact with each other, Act and the US Marine Plastic Pollution
resulting in cumulative detrimental Research and Control Act (MPPRCA),
oceanic interactions. In fact, stressors while Japan has the Water Supply Act
such as macro and microplastics in
the ocean exacerbate the already and Sewerage Law and Scotland put
distressed world ocean ecosystem. in place the Scotland Marine Litter
In a survey of 254 beaches from 11 Strategy and National Litter Strategy.
states conducted by the Central India has recently upped its scientific
Marine Fisheries Research Institute, endeavours towards mapping marine
Cochin, Goa registered the highest litter and collaboration between India
values for plastic litters. These toxify and Japan aims to share scientific
marine animals and birds. Episodic knowledge and data at a regional
extreme events, floods, cyclones, level as part of a joint effort to reduce
storm surges and tsunamis along the marine litter.

3 September 2021 | Sapru House, New Delhi 33