Unified global action is prerequisite to tackle trans-boundary nature of the marine litter

Over the past few decades, scientists and environmental observers have uncovered the reality of the world’s oceans becoming increasingly polluted by human-made waste.

Satellite imagery and field data have revealed growing concentrations of litter in the marine environment, particularly the accumulation within ocean bodies, with plastics emerging as the most dominant and persistent pollutant. As land-based activities continue to funnel waste into marine ecosystems, the ocean has tragically become humanity’s ultimate dumping ground. In the last ten years, global plastic production has surpassed the total output of the entire 20th century.

If current trends persist, the volume of plastic in the oceans could outweigh all the fish by 2050, as warned by UNESCO’s Ocean Literacy Portal. What makes this crisis worse is not just the volume but the persistence of plastic, which does not biodegrade but breaks into smaller microplastics, infiltrating the entire marine food chain.

Another less visible, yet equally harmful, form of marine litter is abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear—often referred to as “ghost gear.”

According to a UNEP report, each year an estimated 5.7 per cent of fishing nets, 8.6 per cent of traps, and 29 per cent of fishing lines are lost at sea, posing a severe risk to marine life and navigation.

Recognising the urgency of the marine litter crisis, global institutions have taken concerted steps to address it.

While the UN has long acknowledged environmental degradation, the issue of marine litter gained formal international recognition in 1995 with the adoption of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities.

This landmark agreement, endorsed by 108 countries, focused on preventing marine pollution originating from land-based sources. In today’s policy landscape, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) play a pivotal role in guiding marine conservation efforts. Specifically, SDG 14.1 emphasises reducing marine pollution, including floating plastic debris, while SDG 6.3 calls for integrated water resource management, further reinforcing the importance of monitoring and managing aquatic waste.

Early initiatives

One of the earliest guidelines to regulate the impact of marine pollution and litter was through the MARPOL guidelines. MARPOL came into force in 1983 and its Annex V regulates the type and form of garbage that ships can dispose of in ocean waters.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which came into effect in 1994 and has 168 member parties, sets out a global commitment for countries to safeguard and preserve the marine environment.

Part XII of the Convention specifically addresses measures for environmental protection and covers pollution from a wide range of sources. These include pollution from land-based activities, littering, dumping, discharges from ships, and debris from abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG).

Honolulu Commitment

In 2011, during the 5th International Marine Debris Conference, governments, NGOs, international organisations, and other stakeholders signed the Honolulu Commitment. This agreement laid out three key objectives: a) Reduce land-based sources of marine debris, b) Tackle sea-based pollution, and c) Address accumulated litter in coastal zones and deep-sea habitats. This commitment emphasised collaborative action and recognised that only through shared responsibility can marine ecosystems be preserved.

GPML and global institutional body 'AHEG'

In 2012, UNEP launched the Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML) — a voluntary, multi-stakeholder initiative that brings together governments, civil society, private sector entities, and scientific communities. GPML supports the implementation of key UN resolutions and promotes innovative solutions to reduce plastic and microplastic leakage into the ocean.

To further these efforts, UNEP convened the Ad Hoc Open-Ended Expert Group (AHEG) in 2017. The group’s mission includes identifying challenges faced by developing nations, evaluating policy responses, and exploring both voluntary and legally binding frameworks to combat marine litter.

Engaging the ground-based stakeholders

UNEP launched the Clean Seas Campaign in 2017, rallying governments, businesses, and individuals to eliminate single-use plastics and rethink consumption habits.

In parallel, the United Nations adopted the resolution “Our Ocean, Our Future: Call for Action,” uniting member states behind long-term strategies to curb plastic use. By 2020, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) had passed four resolutions addressing marine litter and microplastics: 2014/1/6 (UNEA-1), 2016/2/11 (UNEA-2), 2017/3/7 (UNEA-3), and UNEP/EA.4/Res.6 (UNEA-4).

Although these resolutions are not legally binding, they strongly highlight the importance of prioritising effective waste management and preventative measures to tackle marine litter. They also stress the need to enhance scientific research and evidence.

Collectively, the resolutions call for the complete elimination of litter and microplastic discharges into the ocean. Scientific bodies such as the Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP) have been instrumental in advancing the scientific understanding of microplastics. Since 2010, GESAMP has issued key reports on the sources, impacts, and monitoring of marine litter, helping guide evidence-based policy-making.

Indian initiatives

India has formulated a body comprising the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Ministry of Science and Technology (MST), and Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAD) to formulate a national action plan for marine litter, which will present comprehensive source-to-sink management of litter.

Furthermore, India boasts a robust set of Plastic Waste Management Rules, inclusive of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mechanism, which addresses a major component of marine litter—plastic. In addition, India claims to have stringent legislative mandates such as the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, to manage land-based components of marine litter. However, India is yet to receive a direct policy or legislative mandate specifically aimed at mitigating marine litter within its territorial boundaries.

The recognition of the marine litter impact was initially followed up by a niche-based approach, where sectors such as shipping were held accountable for pollution or littering activity. Gradually, recognition of the contribution of land-based activities to marine pollution has enabled better source identification, which has been reflected in contemporary policy instruments.

Tackling marine litter demands unified global action that can also guide national mitigation measures, ensure robust policy implementation, and support innovative solutions. Strengthening international cooperation, enforcing existing frameworks such as MARPOL and UNCLOS, and supporting initiatives like GPML and Clean Seas are vital. Emphasis must shift towards circular economies, improved waste infrastructure, and stakeholder engagement.