New guidelines targeting the better management of marine litter from sea-based sources in ports and marinas in the Mediterranean discussed in Seville, Spain – Apr 08, 2019

    New guidelines targeting the better management of marine litter from sea-based sources in ports and marinas in the Mediterranean discussed in Seville, Spain

    The Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC) participated in the Second Regional Meeting on Marine Litter Best Practices, jointly organised by the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with the MARLICE 2019 International Forum on Marine Litter and Circular Economy, which was convened in Seville, Spain, from 8 to 10 April 2019.

    The Meeting, which was attended by over 50 participants representing 18 Mediterranean coastal States, the European Union (EU), UNEP/MAP partners and other regional and international organisations, discussed, amongst others, the following guidelines prepared by REMPEC within the framework of the EU-funded “Marine Litter-MED” Project:

    • Operational Guidelines on the provision of reception facilities in ports and the delivery of ship-generated wastes in the Mediterranean; and
    • Guidance Document to determine the application of charges at reasonable costs for the use of port reception facilities or, when applicable, application of No-Special-Fee System, in the Mediterranean.

    Following review and consideration in a break-out group, the Meeting recommended, amongst others, to address the following:

    • highlighting the issue of “marine litter” in both documents by introducing a sub-section specifically addressing the interlinkages between ship-generated waste and marine litter; and
    • reflecting the requirements of the newly adopted (on 9 April 2019) EU Directive on port reception facilities for the delivery of waste from ships, which apply to the EU Mediterranean coastal States, with regard to, for instance, adequacy of port reception facilities, incentives and enforcement.

    The Meeting agreed to submit the new guidelines targeting the better management of marine litter from sea-based sources in ports and marinas in the Mediterranean to the upcoming Thirteenth Meeting of the Focal Points of REMPEC to be held in Malta from 11 to 13 June 2019, after taking into consideration the proposed changes, as presented during the break-out group.

    This meeting was financed by the Mediterranean Trust Fund (MTF) as well as the EU-funded “Marine Litter-MED” Project and the funds available under the Cooperation Agreement between the Italian Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea (IMELS) and UNEP.