Introduction Land-based sources Sea-based sources
Pathways References Infographs
introduction
Marine littering is a consequence of how societies and individuals produce and deal with waste. In order to effectively combat the issue, it is important to ask: where, by whom and why litter is released, and how it enters the marine environment?
LAND-BASED SOURCES
Most of the marine litter originates one way or another from land. Land-based litter load can come directly from the shoreline or it can be transported from distant areas such as inland towns and industrial sites via rivers and wastewater pipelines.
SEA-BASED SOURCES
Sea-based marine litter originates from maritime activities such as shipping, fishing, offshore installations or dumping of refuse at sea.
pathways
Marine litter can be transported by different mechanisms from distant areas: via rivers or washed by runoff from inland, or transported by animals, driven by winds and by sea currents.
INFOGRAPHS:
Take a look at some infographs on marine littering:
Marine litter pathways overview
Sea based sources to marine littering
Land based sources to marine littering
Common pathways
Where it all ends up