Conference on regional cooperation in Marine Litter management in Adriatic

region

March 25th, 2015, Split, Croatia

EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) (MSFD)

• GES, Descriptor 10:"Properties and quantities of marine litter do not cause harm to the coastal and marine environment."

Criteria Indicator

10.1. Characteristics of litter in the marine and coastal environment

10.1.1 Trends in the amount of litter washed ashore and/or deposited on coastlines, including analysis of its composition, spatial distribution and, where possible, source10.1.2 Trends in the amount of litter in the water column (including floating at the surface) and deposited on the sea- floor, including analysis of its composition, spatial distribution and, where possible, source10.1.3 Trends in the amount, distribution and, where possible, composition of micro-particles (in particular micro- plastics)

10.2. Impacts of litter on marine life

10.2.1 Trends in the amount and composition of litter ingested by marine animals (e.g. stomach analysis)

EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) (MSFD)

European Commission’s Assessment and Guidance of the first phase of implementation of MSFD (February, 2014)

General assessment / comments:• important step forward, but significant shortcomings

• significant differences in quality of reporting (across countries, across descriptors) … even the best-performing MS still have to address specific shortcomings

• E.g.1: the logical link between the initial assessment (the point of departure), the determination of GES (the final objective) and the targets (the effort needed to reach the objective, starting from the point of departure) has not been recognized by all

• E.g.2: insufficient regional cooperation … “regional cooperation must be at the very heart of MSFD implementation, and influence national implementation processes, rather than the other way around”

European Commission’s Assessment and Guidance of the first phase of implementation of MSFD (February, 2014) (cont.)

Regarding the GES descriptor 10:• … situation even less satisfactory than on average,

• … due to the fact that ML issue has got due attention only recently; available data is scarce, spotty in time and spatial coverage,

• … which does not allow sound determination of GES baselines and targets. …

• harmonized monitoring which will allow gathering of reliable data on various aspects of ML issue is of the highest priority

• “the need for a coordinated, consistent, coherent and comparable monitoring within marine regions, which can only take place through improved regional cooperation on monitoring”

• ML has been singled out as one of the particular topics where more of the regional and sub-regional coordination is needed

Regional Plan on Marine Litter Management in the Mediterranean in the Framework of Article 15 of the Land Based Sources Protocol (adopted December 2013, in force since June 2014)

MEASURE MSFD MED RP

Assessment 2012 2016

Monitoring 2014 2017

Program of measures / Revision of LSB NAPs with integrated ML measures / considerations

2015 2015

Implementation of measures 2016 2017/2020

Programs of removal and environmentally sound

disposal of existing marine litter;

2016 2019

Awareness raising and education programs 2015

Objective Good environmental status 2020

Discussion points …

• EC ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS: harmonized monitoringwhich will allow gathering of reliable data on various aspects of ML issue is of the highest priority

• ML Monitoring in focuse of DEFISHGEAR project! >> KEY AREA for the project SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS

• Involving NGOs …

• Potential for cross-border transfer of know-how:

– On one hand, SLO and IT have the most extensive experience …

– On the other hand, “the need for a coordinated, consistent, coherent and comparable monitoring within marine regions, which can only take place through improved regional cooperation on monitoring”

• Identification of the ML hot spots through adaptive investigative monitoring

Discussion points (2): Candidate measures for inclusion into Programme of measures / NAP revision

• 80% from land sources …

• Improving of WMS is already top priority of environmental sector in all countries in the region

WMS-improvement measures of the highest impact for ML issue:

1. Improving infrastructure for waste collection and signage at beaches

– survey clearly indicate a lot of space for improvement

– Relatively inexpensive, high leverage measure, contributes to both prevention and awareness raising

– Policy / legislative framework (e.g. ongoing CRO Beaches management plans …);

– implementation program facilitated from the national level (e.g. 80-20 financing)

Discussion points (2) …

WMS-improvement measures of the highest impact for ML issue (cont.)

2. among the criteria for identification of the top priorities for dumpsites closure, cleaning, site-rehabilitation …

– in addition to „vicinity of Nature protected areas, and water sanitary zones, …” –

– add criteria: „potential source of ML due to run-off, riverine input, wind transport of waste”

Discussion points (2) …WMS-improvement measures of the highest impact for ML issue (cont.):

3. Establishment of the system for selective collection of old fishing gears

• DEFISHGEAR pilot activities identified recycling industry interest

• Barriers: prohibitively high costs of

– 1) collection of spatially scattered material ;

– 2) necessity of „laboratory analysis” of samples, due to non-existing „composition declaration on the products” as the producers and retailers’ responsibility

• Solutions:

– Establishment of network of sites for selective collection within the fishing port (simple, inexpensive, circa 2.000€ per port), highly effective (preliminary assessment of annually generated old fishing gear for Croatia is 170t, relative to 25t of ALDFG generated ML)

– Investigate possibility of introduction of obligation of inclusion of material composition in the product declaration for fishing gear

Discussion points (2) …

Fishing for Litter

• Fisheries ranked (arguably surprisingly) high among the main sources of ML in surveys (both NGOs and LAs)

• ALDFG makes 10% of ML

• Fishing for Litter scheduled by RP relatively early (2017)

• EMFF offers financing

• FfL scheme relatively well tested (both in region, in project and in wider EU context (KIMO initiative))

• Assessed as promising efficient ML removal measure (OSPAR)

• Relatively simple and inexpensive: couple of €1000 for infrastructure per fishing port; additional pressure on existing WMS on order of ‰

• Another key area for DEFISHGEAR sustainability efforts

Discussion points (2) …

ALDFG removal

• Clean-up campaigns within fisheries sector

• awareness raising, education opportunity + real contribution to BD and fishing resources sustainability

• Priority areas: sites with both high concentration of ALDFG and high value as habitats for stock regeneration and for marine biodiversity in general (e.g. reefs and ridges, but also shipwrecks which function as artificial reefs)

• E.g. estimates for CRO: 100-200 such hot spots, which could be easily identified in cooperation with fishermen.

• Cooperation with divers as partners …

Discussion points (2) …

Clean-up campaigns as primary awareness raising and education tool

• E.g. in touristic centers, during the season, Waste Art exhibitions, …

• NGOs key partners

• Inexpensive measures …

• Secured financing required in order to plan regular activities …