Syllabus: Ecology
Source: DTE
Context: The global spotlight on marine litter has intensified, with India yet to implement a direct policy targeting mitigation. Experts now emphasize the need to prioritize local-level implementation to address escalating ecological and economic impacts.
What is Marine Litter?
- Definition: Marine litter refers to human-generated waste that ends up in oceans and seas, primarily through rivers, drains, and coastal activities.
- Plastic Dominance: Over 80% of marine debris is plastic, including bags, bottles, microplastics, and fishing gear.
Example: Sea turtles mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, leading to fatal blockages.
- Ghost Gear Hazard: Discarded fishing nets (ghost gear) trap and kill marine life long after their utility ends.
Example: Over 650,000 marine mammals die yearly due to entanglement (UNEP).
- Bioaccumulation Risk: Microplastics enter the food chain, impacting marine biodiversity and human health.
- Navigation Threat: Litter impedes shipping, fishing, and tourism sectors—posing safety and economic risks.
Global Data Insights on Marine Litter:
- Plastic Surge: Global plastic production in the last decade surpassed the entire 20th-century output (UNESCO Ocean Literacy).
- 2050 Warning: Oceans may contain more plastic than fish by weight if trends continue (UNESCO).
- COVID Impact: Disruption of waste systems during the pandemic intensified litter flows.
- Microplastics: Detected from Arctic ice to deep-sea trenches—showing global scale and irreversibility.
- Global Mortality: Over 1 million marine animals die annually due to plastic ingestion or entanglement (WWF).
Global Initiatives Against Marine Litter:
- MARPOL Annex V (1983): It is a global agreement that bans ships from dumping plastics and other garbage into the ocean.
- UNCLOS (1994): The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea requires countries to protect the ocean environment. It covers all types of pollution, including waste from land, ships, and offshore sources.
- Honolulu Commitment (2011): Signed by many countries and groups, it aims to reduce waste entering the ocean from land and sea. It promotes cooperation among governments, NGOs, and industries to clean up the oceans.
- UNEP’s Clean Seas Campaign (2017): Launched by the UN, this campaign encourages countries to reduce plastic use, especially single-use plastics.
- Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14.1: This global goal asks all countries to reduce marine pollution by 2025, especially plastic waste. It pushes for cleaner seas through better waste management and reduced dumping.
India is Lagging Behind in Controlling Marine Litter:
- Lack of Standalone Policy: India lacks a direct national policy for marine litter mitigation.
- Over-reliance on Plastic Waste Management Rules (2016): These rules focus on general waste but lack marine-specific enforcement.
E.g. EPR implementation remains inconsistent across states.
- Delayed Action Plan: While a National Action Plan is being developed, its implementation remains pending.
- Land-based Litter Ignored: Rivers and drains funnel untreated solid waste into oceans.
- Sectoral Focus: Existing maritime pollution control focuses primarily on shipping, not comprehensive waste streams.
Way Forward:
- Adopt a National Marine Litter Policy: India must formalize a comprehensive marine litter law incorporating land-sea continuum.
E.g. Modelled on Japan’s Marine Litter Act or EU’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
- Community-Based Monitoring: Engage coastal communities in local-level waste surveillance and clean-up.
E.g. Kerala’s ‘Suchitwa Sagaram’ project mobilized fisherfolk to collect marine plastic.
- Leverage Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Enforce plastic recovery targets and traceability at coastal and riverine levels.
- Circular Economy Approach: Promote biodegradable alternatives, waste segregation, and recycling near coasts.
E.g. Link with Swachh Bharat 2.0 and National Green Hydrogen Mission for sustainability.
- Scientific Collaboration and Innovation: Partner with GESAMP, GPML, and UNEP for R&D on bio-remediation and microplastic removal.
Conclusion:
Marine litter is a growing ecological and economic crisis. While global frameworks offer guidance, India must act decisively at the local level with a dedicated policy, robust community participation, and innovation-driven solutions. Only then can our blue economy be truly sustainable.
PYQ:
- What is oil pollution? What are its impacts on the marine ecosystem? In what way is oil pollution particularly harmful for a country like India? (UPSC-2023)
