UN report finds marine debris harming more than 800 species, costing countries millions
February 2, 2017
Marine debris is negatively affecting more than 800 animal species and causing serious losses to many countries’ economies, according to a United Nations report published in December 2016, written by BLUE’s Head of Conservation, Simon Harding.
The report, Marine Debris: Understanding, Preventing and Mitigating the Significant Adverse Impacts on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity found that the number of species affected by marine debris has increased from 663 to 817 since 2012. It also warned that this type of waste, which is mostly made of plastic, is an increasing threat to human health and well-being, and is costing countries billions of dollars each year.
A brief summary of the report is available here.
Image credit: Marine waste, mainly fishing gear, being collected on the beaches of Northwest Spitsbergen, Norway. Photo: UNEP GRID Arendal/Peter Prokosch
Recent news
- BLUE's Charles Clover wins Special Achievement award
- Conservatives promise largest marine sanctuaries in the world
- Turkish marine researcher and conservationist wins the 2017 Whitley Gold Award for his innovative work to protect Turkey’s coastline
- A world first for Bermuda
- Sargassum is weird stuff - and it gets weirder
- Theresa May to announce UK will reclaim its waters for British fishermen
- Progress overseas but domestic inertia for UK marine reserves
- Ben Fogle: Saving the Solent
- Ben Fogle supports Solent Oyster Project
- Solent oyster project backed by Ben Fogle