30 NGOs call on ministers to set ambitious marine litter targets - The Malta Independent Online

Posted - Article published on 08 July 2012- The Malta Independent Online

Marking International Bag Free Day, Nature Trust (Malta) is one of more than 30 NGOs that are making a final call to EU Environment ministers ahead of the 15 July deadline for setting marine litter targets, as required under EU law. In an open letter sent to all 27 ministers, the NGOs are calling for ambitious and significant reduction targets for 2020.

Under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), member states have to disclose their initial assessments of their own waters, define what they consider to be “good environmental status” and set targets for several marine environmental challenges, including marine litter, for 2020.
Seas At Risk executive director Monica Verbeek said: “The MSFD presents a golden opportunity for member states to tackle the problem of marine litter and plastic pollution in our seas. We want to see member states committing to targets that will have a real and noticeable effect on litter levels on our beaches and in our seas, not only for the sake of marine life, but also to reduce the economic burden marine litter places on coastal communities and maritime industries. Significant reductions are possible but strong political will is needed now.”
The 32 NGOs – whose interests range from turtle conservation to waste reduction policy – fear that member states could end up wasting the opportunity by setting weak targets that, if achieved, will have little effect on the state of the marine environment.
The letter – and an associated advice document for the Environment ministers that was published earlier this year – details the feasibility of setting a 50 per cent reduction target in marine litter by 2020.
The letter was sent out individually to all European Environment Ministers on 3 July to mark International Bag Free Day and this year groups from all over the world are organising activities to raise awareness on the impact of single-use plastic bags on the environment.
The full letter can be read at www.seas-at-risk.org/1mages/Marinelitterletter_EUministers.pdf
The ENGO advice document on marine littercan be read at www.seas-at-risk.org

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