Conference: How to prevent sea-based marine litter?

Host:Norwegian Centre against Marine Litter
Type:Conference
Where:Hybrid conference with attendence in Svolvær, Norway and online.
When:April 5 – 6 2022

About the conference
The speakers
Participants and presentations
Program
Practical information

You can sign up for the conference here

Tuesday, April 5

Welcome and opening remarks

09:00 – 09:15

Espen Barth Eide, Ministry of Climate and Environment

Ann-Helen Ernstsen, Norwegian Centre against Marine Litter

The Minister of Climate and Environment, Espen Barth Eide, opens the conference.

Welcome and opening remarks by the CEO of The Norwegian Centre against Marine Litter, Ann-Helen Ernstsen.

Introduction from our host

09:15 – 09:20

Petter Gulli

Our moderator for the conference is Petter Gulli. He is the founder to the sustainability agency, 12YEARS.

A Global View on Sea-based Sources of Marine Litter: Prevention and Solution

09:20 – 09:50

Kirsten Gilardi, Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center

A Global View on Sea-based Sources of Marine Litter: Prevention and Solution

Ocean based activities – e.g., fishing, aquaculture, shipping, and oil/gas extraction – are sources of plastic for the global ocean. The UN-sponsored Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP) Working Group 43 recently completed a comprehensive global review of this subject. This presentation will emphasize GESAMP’s key findings with regard to prevention of marine plastic from ocean-based activities.

How can Circular Economy strategies prevent marine littering?

09:50 – 10:10

Frode Syversen, Mepex

Global plastic littering agreement will most probably include incentives towards prevention.

Improved waste management systems and new product regulations will be crucial tools combating marine littering.

How can we develop expanded producer responsibility systems combined with closed loops for products and new technology for tracing products?

Can the new value chains stop the plastic leaking to the environment and sea?

Coffee break

10:10 – 10:25

Multistakeholder prevention -best practise framework

10:25 – 10:45

Joel Baziuk , Global Ghost Gear Initiative

To date, most research around ALDFG has been focused on wild capture fisheries. However, evidence suggests that the aquaculture sector is also a major contributor to ALDFG due to inclement weather, aging equipment, etc. This presentation will examine the GGGI’s Best Practice Framework for the Management of Aquaculture Gear (A-BPF) – released in August 2021 - providing the aquaculture industry a practical tool to prevent, mitigate and remediate the challenge of gear loss and plastic debris.

Rent hav – how does cleanup improve our work on prevention of marine litter?

10:45 – 11:05

Ann Helen Hellevik, Norwegian Centre against Marine Litter

Rent hav was recently launched as the national digital tool for those who work with marine litte in Norway. As the amount of data grows, the basis for knowledge-based clean-up and prevention of marine litter will be strengthened. The tool is the first of its kind and has an international potential.

Panel talk – Knowledge sharing and capacity building

11:05 – 11:35

Lise Langård leading the panel discussion with Hilde Sofie Berg, Joel Baziuk, Frode Syversen and Ragnhild Nyland.

Lunch

11:35 – 12:35

Forget me knot – Best practices to preventing marine litter from net-cuttings. How do we motivate others to change their routines?

12:35 – 13:05

Ryan d'Arcy Metcalfe , KIMO

Pieces of net and cord from fisheries in the North-East Atlantic are among the top items found during beach cleaning activities. KIMO undertook a study and interviewed fishers and at port authorities to discover possible reasons why this is the case. We then developed a best practice guide to help prevent this type of marine litter. This presentation will focus on the changes that need to be made in order to reduce net cutting waste from reaching the sea and who can help to inspire these changes.

Prohibitions against pollution in the context of Ship Safety regulations in Norway.

13:05 – 13:25

Egil Bjørnevik, Norwegian Maritime Authority

Bjørnevik will present the environmental regulations The Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) manage, and how they carry out waste inspections on ships. He will also provide information on possible causes and on NMA's prevention strategies.

Tackling marine litter in the Atlantic Area

13:25 – 13:40

Marisa Fernández , Centro Tecnológico del Mar- CETMAR Foundation

CleanAtlantic project, funded by the Interreg Atlantic Area Program, aims to improve the knowledge and the capabilities to prevent, monitor and reduce marine litter and to raise awareness. With a holistic approach, the project partners worked on compiling and facilitating the access to existent marine litter data and knowledge, reinforcing monitoring, modelling and mapping capabilities and reducing marine litter through fishing-for-litter actions and raising awareness among key actors such as fishers, students, local authorities and tourists. The presentation will show a brief overview of the approach and those project outcomes more relevant in terms of prevention, mainly key online resources and project activities developed in collaboration with fishermen and other maritime stakeholders.

Coffee break

13:40 – 14:00

Presentation of ”DESOLVE” - a new Centre for Researche-based Innovation

14:00 – 14:10

Vilde Sørnes Solbakken, Salt Lofoten AS (SALT)

Vilde is going to present the project Dsolve. The aim of Dsolve is to replace traditional plastics in fishing in aquaculture industries with biodegradable materials.

Networking session: What activities lead to preventative actions?

14:10 – 15:30

Wrapping up

15:30 – 15:40

Petter Gulli

Ann-Helen Ernstsen, Norwegian Centre against Marine Litter

Wednesday, April 6

Introduction day 2

09:00 – 09:10

Petter Gulli

With the heart in the right place

09:10 – 09:25

Kenneth Bruvik

Love for nature, the coastline and the blue fields. Is this love strong enough? Life in the ocean need protection from people with love and care. Beachcleaning can be a part of the solution.

Marine litter: Attitudes and practices among fishers in Northern Norway

09:25 – 09:50

Bjørn Vidar Vangelsten, Nordland Research Institute

Marine litter harms marine life, human wellbeing and the provision of clean seafood. In the Barents Sea, a high portion of this source of pollution derives from fisheries. This study explores fishers' attitudes towards litter and their practices when it comes to marine litter onboard their vessels and in harbors. However, increased sensitivity to the problem has not completely translated into effective practices to address it. The study finds that the institutionalization of desirable values and practices is hindered by the lack of infrastructure, institutional support and appropriate practical arrangements in harbors.

Behavioural interventions for reducing marine litter: Evidence from research and community engagement activities.

09:50 – 10:15

Sohvi Nuojua, University of Oulu

Sohvi’s talk will review behavioural interventions aimed at reducing marine litter and plastic pollution. She showcases evidence from empirical research and community engagement activities designed to modify behaviours that contribute to the accumulation of litter in the seas. Findings from research across the retail, tourism and education sector are included, as well as evaluations of interventions targeted at specific demographic groups, such as fishermen. Her talk will include critical discussion around the role of knowledge and awareness in behaviour change, and she will highlight the importance of rigorous evaluation in efforts to reduce marine litter via behavioural modification.

Ocean Stewardship Coalition’s Work on Marine Plastic Litter

10:15 – 10:25

Rebecca Alcolea Krauss, United Nations Global Compact - Ocean Stewardship Coalition

The Ocean Stewardship Coalition, initiated by the UN Global Compact, convenes leading governments, companies, NGOs, academic institutions, and UN partners, offering a vital forum for cross-sectoral collaboration to drive action and determine how the ocean, and ocean industries, can deliver on the Paris Agreement and all 17 of the Global Goals. One of the Ocean Stewardship Coalition's main projects is the Global Industry Alliance (GIA) on marine plastic litter.The GIA is an alliance of ocean industry leaders working together with the IMO-FAO GloLitter Partnerships project (GLP), through the UN Global Compact, to support efforts to address the issue of marine plastic litter from sea-based sources, in particular within the shipping and fishing sectors.

Coffe Break

10:25 – 10:45

The panel talk: When do awareness lead to change?

10:45 – 11:15

Led by Petter Gulli

Participants:

Ryan d'Arcy Metcalfe, KIMO Denmark
Olav Lekve, Directorate of Fisheries
Lise Strømqvist, Norwegian Centre against Marine Litter
Erik Griersky, Ocean Stewardship Coalition

Lunch

11:15 – 12:15

Dialogue session

12:15 – 13:45

Closing Conference

13:45 – 14:00

Lighthouse Lofoten Conference 2022 – the guiding light towards prevention of sea-based marine litter

Tuesday, April 5

Wednesday, April 6

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA