Regional Government launches awareness campaign to prevent waste produced on board from being disposed at sea
The Regional Government, through the Regional Directorates for Sea Affairs and Fisheries, in partnership with the Portuguese Navy and the National Maritime Authority is promoting an awareness campaign to ensure that seafarers operating in the Azores take measures for the management of waste produced on board vessels to prevent from being disposed at sea.
During this month, an environmental message is being sent through the Communications Centre of the Azores, operated by the Portuguese Navy, warning that "every year 10 million tonnes of plastic are thrown into the sea" and, "at this pace, it is predicted that, in 20 years' time, there will be more waste than fish in the sea."
Marine litter is the main concern of the international agenda, being a priority issue in European and global conservation and development policies. They are based on the sustainable and rational use of the ocean and its resources.
The fight against marine litter is quite explicit in the commitments taken by states, regions and multiple entities in response to the challenges launched by the United Nations. They fall within goal 14 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on the "Conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development."
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive for Europe's Integrated Maritime Policy also comprises the monitoring of marine litter and, therefore, requires states to take action in order to reduce this problem.
The disposal of waste at sea is forbidden for the fleets of the countries that have ratified MARPOL - International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, which was established in 1973 within the International Maritime Organisation.
Given the relevance of the problem of marine litter, there are thousands of initiatives and networks around the world, reaching all demographic and decision-making levels. In fact, it reaches global organisations such as those within the United Nations or regional ones like OSPAR - Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic. Moreover, this issue is also the focus of national associations such as the Portuguese Marine Litter Association and of local initiatives, including the Action Plan for Marine Litter in the Azores - PALMA.