1. Progress on Marine Litter Regional Plan implementation in the Mediterranean
Project Coordination Group Meeting

2. ML policy and legal background
At Global and regional levels:
UNEP Leadership through GPA and Regional Seas
Manila declaration of GPA, 2012: ML a key priority
Honolulu Commitment and Rio+20 target on ML, 2012
EU MSFD, OSPAR, HELCOM and other regional Seas
At UNEP/MAP:
Barcelona Convention LBS Protocol regulates ML management
Prevention and Emergency Protocol
Offshore Protocol
Dumping protocol
COP : First measures on marine litter adopted
SAP MED 1997: Adequate solid waste management in place by 2025 by all countries
COP 17, 2012 : Strategic Framework for Marine Litter management inspired and supported by UNEP work
COP 17, 2012: Ecological and operational objectives on marine litter adopted
COP 18, December 2013 Legally binding measures and implementation time tables adopted (MLRP)
Detailed Implementation Work Plan adopted
List of priority research topics identified
Reporting Elements agreed
Indicative Cost of Implementing measures defined
UNEP/MAP the first UNEP Regional Sea Convention adopting legally binding measures on marine litter
The Barcelona Convention (1976, amended in 1995, in force since 2004)
and its seven Protocols:
Dumping Protocol (1976, in force since 1978, amended in 1995);
Prevention and Emergency Protocol (2002,in force since 2004 replacing Emergency Protocol of 1976);
Land-based Sources and Activities Protocol (adopted 1996, in force since 2008 replacing LBS Protocol of 1980);
SPA and Biodiversity Protocol (1995, in force since 1999 replacing SPA Protocol of 1982);
Offshore Protocol (1994, in force since 2011);
Hazardous Wastes Protocol (1996, in force since 2008);
Integrated Coastal Zone Management Protocol (2008, in force since 2011).

3. Regional Plan objectives and ECAP targets
Objectives ( ML RP)
Prevent ML Generation
Reduce to the minimum ML and its impacts
Remove existing ML to the extent possible
Manage ML in accordance with accepted international and regional standards and approaches
Enhance knowledge about ML sources, quantities and impacts
ML ECAP Targets (COP 18, 2013)
Decreasing trend in the number of ML items deposited on the coast
Decreasing trend in the number of ML items in the water surface and the seafloor
Decreasing trend in the cases of entanglement or/and a decreasing trend in the stomach content of the sentinel species

4. Marine Litter Regional Plan Measures
Pollution Control
Pollution Prevention Measures
SCP tools Widely agreed
Existing ML removal
Targets Measure Implementation
Reporting Clear Obligations
Cooperation Partnership with Stakeholders at national and regional levels
Implementation Flexibility 4

5. Package of Innovative measures: Prevention
Extended Producer Responsibility
Sustainable Procurement Policies
Fiscal and economic instruments to promote the reduction of plastic bag
Agreements with Plastic Packaging
Deposits, Return and Restoration System
Agreements with retailers/supermarkets to set reduction objective
Gear marking to indicate ownership” ‘reduced ghost catches (use of environmental neutral upon degradation of nets, pots and traps)
Procedures and manufacturing methodologies with plastic industry to minimize the decomposition characteristics of plastic, to reduce micro-plastic.
There is also ongoing work in the framework of SWITCH-MED on SCP pilot activities related to prevention of marine litter, with a focus on eco-packaging (in Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon) and marine litter prevention will be also an important part of the upcoming SCP Action Plan. 5

6. Incentive and other participatory measures
No-special-fee approach where appropriate
Fishing for Litter system
Compulsory national programmes on the removal of existing marine litter and disposal
National Beach Cleanup Campaigns
International Coastal Cleanup Campaigns
Adopt-a-Beach practices
The Barcelona Convention (1976, amended in 1995, in force since 2004)
and its seven Protocols:
Dumping Protocol (1976, in force since 1978, amended in 1995);
Prevention and Emergency Protocol (2002,in force since 2004 replacing Emergency Protocol of 1976);
Land-based Sources and Activities Protocol (adopted 1996, in force since 2008 replacing LBS Protocol of 1980);
SPA and Biodiversity Protocol (1995, in force since 1999 replacing SPA Protocol of 1982);
Offshore Protocol (1994, in force since 2011);
Hazardous Wastes Protocol (1996, in force since 2008);
Integrated Coastal Zone Management Protocol (2008, in force since 2011). 6

7. By 2025: ISWM for agglomerations of 20 000 or more inhabitants
Enhanced solid WM measures and strict timetables to reduce and prevent ML
By 2025: ISWM for agglomerations of or more inhabitants
By 2020: Illegal land dumpsites closure
By 2020: Adequate urban sewer, WWTP, and WMS to prevent run-off and litter riverine inputs
By 2020: Cost effective measures to prevent any marine littering from dredging activities
Enforcement measures to combat dumping including
littering on the beach,
illegal sewage disposal in the sea, coastal zone and rivers.
With key importance of illegal and dumpsites closure. 7

8. ML Assessment&Monitoring&Reserach
Assess status of ML every 6 years
Regional Monitoring Programme by 2015
ML Regional Data bank by 2016
Regional ML Monitoring Expert group by 2014
National ML Monitoring Programme by 2016
Research topics identified to:
Improve knowledge gap
Support implementation of measures 8

9. Implementation MLRP: The way forward
Focus on priorities taking into account that Measures should be implemented in a coherent manner
Promoting prevention measures through the application of sustainable lifestyles, production and consumption at both public and producer levels
Harmonized marine litter monitoring across the countries and regions as appropriate
Indispensible roles of all stakeholders: government, local authorities, producers, NGOs, port authorities, public, research institutions, Regional organizations, industry
A ML baseline and reduction target in a near future (baseline assessment ongoing). 9

10. Implementation Actions 2014-2015
NAPs update to address MLRP measures
NAP update Guidelines adopted March 2014, Athens; Work to prepare NAPs started
ML Monitoring Programme 2014, Monitoring guidance developed in synergy with MDSFD TSG on ML work
Assessment of national monitoring needs, 2015
MED Hot spots and priority contaminants list update to consider ML as appropriate ( NAP update)
SWITCH MED project/EU Adriatic Jonian Strategy: ML highlighted
H2020: Solid WM a higher priority
UfM Projects mobilization on ML
Update of ML assessment update with objective to propose baseline! ( reduction target)
Fishing for litter best practices in process

11. Implementation actions 2014-2015
H2020 Regional Training on ML, May 2014
Marlisco best practices to be disseminated (Arabic)
Internal coordination ongoing inside UNEP-MAP to highlight priorities and identify a specific implementation roadmap by December 2014
Cooridnation with Ospar and Helcom in progress
State of art and Review of existing specific guidelines related to ML in process
UNEP ML Global Forum and support; participate in global UNEP ML projects
Challenge: how to better benefit from existing projects (EU, SWEEP, WB, etc) to maximize results in an effective manner
THANK YOU
For more information please contact: