Policy brief: Best practice examples of existing economic policy instruments and potential new economic policy instruments to reduce marine litter and eliminate barriers to GES. D. 4.13.

Abstract

Marine litter is a complex problem and recognised as a major and growing environmental concern (UNEP, 2009). It threatens marine ecosystems and biodiversity (e.g. through ingestion or entanglement by marine species) and ultimately risks human well- being by damaging socioeconomic activities (e.g. losses to fishing or clean up costs) and posing health risks (e.g. ingestion of plastics through the food chain) (EEA, 2015). Marine litter originates from div erse and various, sources both land and sea -based, and the types of items which end up in the world’s seas and oceans are both varying and numerous (UNEP, 2009). Those often identified include plastic caps and lids, bottles, plastic bags, hygiene products, food containers, fishing nets, and cigarette butts (Interwies et al. 2013). These items can be found in great quantities on the ocean floor, in the water column, floating at sea, and along shorelines and coasts (UNEP, 2009). Exasperating the issue of marine litter is the significant lack of knowledge and missing information about how and why this momentous problem persists (EEA, 2015). While scientists continue to work to understand how marine litter impacts marine ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as its subsequent effects on human health, current understanding and growing concerns mean that both society and policy makers alike recognise that increased efforts are needed to properly address the problem (EEA, 2015). Along these lines, European policy m akers established the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) to protect, preserve and where possible restore the European marine environment to ensure clean and healthy seas by 2020 (EC, 2008). It identifies marine litter as a key threat requiring increased action from policy and selects its presence as one of eleven descriptors of Good Environmental Status (GES). Regulations (e.g. laws), economic instruments (e.g. taxes and deposit schemes) and soft measures (e.g. voluntary actions such as organised beach clean ups) will all be required to meet this policy demand (EC, 2008). Moreover, given the complexity of the problem combined with resource constraints, policy makers must seek to design and implement policies which are both cost effective as well as maximise benefits to society. The main objective of this policy brief is to provide a critical review and assessment of potential measures to reduce marine litter. The focus of this brief is on existing economic instruments implemented in Europe. It aim s to point to critical factors which influence the appropriateness and effectiveness of economic instruments. It also seeks to show where the scope of current economic instruments could be expanded to explore their capacity to reduce marine litter. Such an evaluation of existing economic instruments to reduce marine litter is essential to furthering the necessary steps to achieve GES and sustainable marine ecosystem management. This policy brief is a result of research conducted with the project Towards a Clean, Litter -Free European Marine Environment through Scientific Evidence, Innovative Tools and Good Governance (CleanSea) funded through the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7