Marine litter - Assessing the distribution and impact of marine litter in Africa and the Bay of Bengal

FAO

Marine litter - Assessing the distribution and impact of marine litter in Africa and the Bay of Bengal

An initiative of the EAF-NANSEN Programme

Year of publication 2024

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 6p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

Full item page

Synopsis (short abstract) Urgent action is needed to reduce the leakage of plastics to the ocean. To do this we need more information on the quantities and types of litter that have leaked, especially from regions and countries where data are scarce or lacking. With more knowledge, we will also be able to estimate the risk to local fishing communities in terms of social health well-being and economic resilience. In addition, we will be better placed to assess the impact of litter on key maritime sectors, such as fisheries, as well as on key environmental indicators such as breeding grounds and sensitive habits. The EAF-Nansen Programme has been running two studies on marine litter. The first study involved the recording of the litter retrieved in the demersal trawl, during surveys with the research vessel (R/V) Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, in the period 2011–2023. The second study examined the impact of marine litter on the beach seine fishery of four countries in the Gulf of Guinea. The EAF-Nansen Programme is a longstanding partnership between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Norway, dating back to 1975. It is executed by FAO in close collaboration with the Institute of Marine Research in Norway (IMR), and funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).

Language English

Also available in:

French

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Déchets marins - Évaluer la répartition et l'impact des déchets marins en Afrique et dans le golfe du Bengale
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Il est urgent d’agir pour réduire les rejets de plastiques dans les océans. Pour ce faire, nous avons besoin de plus d’informations sur les quantités et les types de déchets qui y sont déversés, en particulier dans les régions et les pays où les données sont rares ou inexistantes. Une meilleure connaissance du problème permettrait également d’estimer le risque pour les communautés locales de pêcheurs en termes de santé, de bien-être et de résilience économique. Mais aussi sans doute d’évaluer l’impact des déchets sur les principaux secteurs maritimes, tels que la pêche, ainsi que sur les indicateurs environnementaux fondamentaux tels que les zones de reproduction et les habitats sensibles.Le Programme EAF-Nansen a mené deux campagnes sur les déchets marins. La première a consisté à quantifier les déchets récupérés dans un chalut démersal, lors des campagnes réalisées par le navire de recherche (N/R) Dr. Fridtjof Nansen entre 2011 et 2023. La seconde campagne a examiné l’impact des déchets marins sur la pêche à la senne de plage dans quatre pays du golfe de Guinée.Le Programme EAF-Nansen est exécuté par l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture (FAO), en étroite collaboration avec l’Institut de recherche marine (IMR) en Norvège, et financé par l’Agence norvégienne de coopération pour le développement (Norad).
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EAF-Nansen Programme’s work on marine litter and microplastics
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Marine litter is a global problem and has increased substantially in recent years. This report provides a summary of the results achieved by the EAF-Nansen Programme as part of its Science Plan, through additional funding received under an addendum, on the occurrence and impacts of marine litter and microplastics in the Gulf of Guinea. Three areas of work were identified, which allowed to improve the understanding of the presence of microplastics in marine ecosystems, generate knowledge on the occurrence of marine debris through the use of the research vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, enhance the capacity of the countries involved and provide scientific foundations for appropriate action at various levels. An improved sampling protocol for marine debris was developed and successfully tested.There has been a perception in the Gulf of Guinea region that the presence of marine litter could have an adverse effect on the beach seine fishery. A study was conducted in four countries, namely Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo, to gather sociodemographic, fisheries and environmental data to record the impact of marine litter on the fishing communities. A separate report on the study is available. The results of the study are expected to inform local, national and regional management actions to devise actions to reduce the impact of litter in fishery.
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BOBLME II, a five-year project (2023-2028) initiates a forward-thinking programme and effort to address the complex challenges in the Bay ofBengal through developing an effective multi country governance arrangement to improve sustainable fisheries, protected areas management, regional species conservation, while building coastal community resilience to the impacts of climate change.