Marine Litter in the Northwest Pacific Region - Its Problems and Counter Measures to be taken by NOWPAP MERRAC

The marine litter generated as by-products of human activities and economic development enters indirectly through rivers or stream and directly through sea-based activities to the sea. It is commonly comprised of materials that degrade very slowly, such as various plastic products, polystyrene, glass, rubber, metal, wood, derelict fishing nets, wire, rope and so on. Such litter found in the water column and on the seafloor as well as coastal areas in the Northwest Pacific region. It caused injury or death of human and other living thing and also accident or damage of the vessel. It is a problem of not only country but also regional and/or global problem because it is transported by currents and winds from one country to another. In this regard, Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP) marine litter activity (MALITA) project had been carried out during 2006-2007 biennium and NOWPAP regional action plan on marine litter (RAP MALI) will be also continuously implemented in the 2008-2009 biennium as next phase step. MERRAC, one of four Regional Activity Centres of NOWPAP, has developed monitoring guidelines, sectoral guidelines, and brochures related to sea-based marine litter and port reception facilities and services through MALITA project. Based upon these output, MERRAC will continuously implement RAP MALI in order to help to establish and improve a regional mechanism to deal with the sea based marine litter problem in the NOWPAP region.