Plastic litter in the ocean

6 November 2015

Plastic litter is human-created waste that directly or indirectly (e.g. via rivers or winds) enters into the world’s oceans. Plastic pollutants in our oceans and waterways have severe impacts on our natural environments. Marine Organisms are at high risk of being trapped and strangled in plastic debris, but also of ingesting minute particles of corroded plastic that does not further biodegrade. This may lead to death from choking, intestinal blockage and starvation. Floating oceanic plastic debris tends to accumulate at the centre of gyres and on coastlines, frequently washing ashore. Hence, it not only affects the earth’s natural environments but also endangers human resources (e.g., sea food and recreational areas). Managing litter input and developing technologies for the removal of litter from the ocean, therefore, presents crucial challenges for human kind in the present and future.

This GLOMAR Panel Discussion aims to identify different positions and arguments with respect to the topic.

Photo credit: Andy Waddington /geograph.org.uk / Creative Commons License

Schedule and location:

09.00 - 12.00	Aquisition of background information, defining expert roles, preparation of slides (panel members only)	MARUM, room 3030
13.00 - 13.30	Set up room for panel discussion	MARUM, room 2070
13.30 - 15.00	Panel discussion (with audience, everybody is welcome)	MARUM, room 2070

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