Fresh efforts on marine litter

European Parliament fisheries committee member Ian Hudghton has welcomed renewed efforts at European level to combat the issue of marine litter in Europe.

The partnership of Europêche and Waste Free Oceans (WFO) will encourage fishermen and the plastics industry to work together to prevent marine littering and proactively clear plastics in the ocean.

The SNP MEP said on Friday: “I welcome this new effort from Europêche and WFO to tackle the ongoing problem of litter in seas across Europe. Last year the Scottish government launched a national marine litter strategy with the aim of promoting sustainable use of our valuable and unique marine environments.

“These combined efforts at an EU level and through national governments will advance the preservation of Europe’s seas and encourage fishermen to take part in projects targeted at cleaning our oceans.”

The marine litter strategy is intended to cut the amount of litter entering the marine and coastal environment, bringing “ecological, economic and social benefits, meeting the long term needs of people and nature.”

It underpins developments in marine legislation through the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 in promoting sustainable use of the “valuable and unique environment”.

The development and implementation of the strategy will be led by Marine Scotland.