Marine debris from ships and other ocean-based sources-including trash and lost fishing gear-contributes to the spoiling of beaches, fouling of surface waters and the seafloor, and harm to marine animals, among other effects. Unfortunately, international conventions and domestic laws intended to control marine debris have not been successful, in part because the laws, as written, provide little incentive to change behavior.



This book identifies ways to reduce waste, improve waste disposal at ports, and strengthen the regulatory framework toward a goal of zero waste discharge into the marine environment. Progress will depend on a commitment to sustained funding and appropriate institutional support.



The Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee should, through planning and prioritization, target research to understand the sources, fates, and impacts of marine debris. It should support the establishment of scalable and statistically rigorous protocols that allow monitoring at a variety of temporal and spatial scales. These protocols should contain evaluative metrics that allow assessment of progress in marine debris mitigation. The United States, through leadership in the international arena, should provide technical assistance and support for the establishment of additional monitoring and research programs worldwide.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
Summary
1 Introduction
2 Understanding Marine Debris and Its Impacts
3 Measures to Prevent and Reduce Marine Debris and Its Impacts
4 Derelict Fishing Gear and Fish Aggregating Devices
References
Appendix A: Committee and Staff Biographies
Appendix B: Acronyms
Appendix C: Selected Literature on Quantities and Impacts of Marine Debris
Appendix D: Parties to MARPOL Annex V and Members of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations
Appendix E: Management of Waste and Derelict Fishing Gear