Meermuell
Plastic marine litter - sources at sea
One fifth of the plastic waste littering the oceans is generated at sea
The European Marine Strategy focuses on the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), which came into force on 15 July 2008. Its goal is to achieve and maintain good status in European marine waters by 2020. (Source German Environment Agency - Umweltbundesamt).
About 20% of the plastic waste in the sea comes from sources at sea. Too many ships still illegally dispose of their waste at sea in order to save costs for disposal in port. "Ghost nets" which are lost in heavy seas or deliberately disposed of in the sea, originate from fishing, as do dolly ropes, which serve to protect the fishing nets from chafing through when they come into contact with the seabed.
NABU provides background information on sources of plastic waste at sea and control mechanisms on its website "Müll über Bord - Eintragsweg Schifffahrt - Schiffahrt für vermüllte Meere mitverantwortlich".
The European Marine Strategy focuses on the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), which came into force on 15 July 2008. Its goal is to achieve and maintain good status in European marine waters by 2020. (Source German Environment Agency - Umweltbundesamt).