Lead agencies: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Supporting agency: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Overview
The overall aim of Working Group 43 is to build a broader understanding of sea-based sources of marine litter (as opposed to land-based sources). WG 43 focuses particularly on litter that is produced by the shipping and fishing sectors. Their work so far has involved a scoping review of the current knowledge on the sources, impacts and management systems of sea-based marine litter, as well as a more in-depth study of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG).
The information produced by WG 43 is intended to guide interventions on marine litter.
WG 43’s work overlaps slightly with WG 40, ‘Sources, fates and effects of plastics and microplastics in the marine environment’.
Background
Marine litter in the ocean, including plastic, is harmful for marine habitats, biodiversity, fisheries, animal welfare, maritime transport and safety at sea.
Over the past decade, experts have gathered more knowledge on levels, sources and negative effects of marine litter and microplastics in the world’s ocean. There has also been increasing political will and momentum to address marine litter, including within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (particularly Sustainable Development Goal 14.1, to reduce marine pollution), which has played a key role in driving increased action on this issue at regional, national and international levels.
Within this context of increased knowledge and political motivation, land-based sources of marine litter dominate scientific outputs, public attention and political dialogue, in large part because they remain the most significant sources. However, sea-based sources of marine litter continue to be significant, and as ocean industries (fishing, shipping, extraction) shift in size and scope, the need to better understand these activities as sources of sea-based litter, including from the fishing and shipping sectors, remains paramount.
The impacts from certain types of marine litter deriving from ocean activities, particularly ALDFG, may be more harmful than other types and/or sources of marine debris. One such harm is “ghost fishing”, wherein derelict fishing gear continues to trap, entangle and potentially kill marine life. Marine litter from sea-based sources also poses a navigational hazard e.g., by entangling or damaging propellers and rudders.
Consequently, UN agencies (particularly FAO and IMO) have been increasing their efforts to meet this challenge. Both organizations have adopted policy instruments to deal with sea-based sources of marine litter and have also been mandated by their members to establish strategies and action plans. WG 43 was created to meet the demand for a broader scientific understanding of sea-based sources of marine litter and their effects.
History and work of WG 43
WG 43 was created in April 2019 after the 45th annual session of GESAMP. Since its formation, WG 43 has held several in-person meetings: in Rome (October 2019), Geneva (May 2023), Seattle (March 2024) and London (April 2024). As well, WG 43 has convened virtually on numerous occasions in order to conduct its work.
WG 43 has two concurrent work-streams:
Work-stream 1 involves an overarching scoping study which, amongst other objectives, will support the initial information requirements of IMO’s Strategy and Action Plan to address the issue of marine litter from ships. WG 43 aims to:
· Assess the relative contribution of litter from different sources.9Y
· Assess the analysis of plastic use and management within both shipping and fishing industries.
· Assess the extent of the impacts from sea-based sources of marine litter.
· Identify priorities within this overarching scope.
Work-stream 2 recognises that abandoned, lost and otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is a particular form of sea-based sources of marine litter that requires scientific assessment to inform interventions. WG 43 aims to:
More information about WG 43’s work can be found in it first report, which is available to download from the Publications page [insert hyperlink].
WG 43 organized a webinar on 23 September 2021 to present the findings of the report. The webinar is available below.
Sea-based sources of marine litter: Webinar to present the report of GESAMP Working Group 43
Current and future work of WG 43
The working group is currently in its second phase.
Current members of WG 43
Chair: Kirsten Gilardi (Chair), University of California - Davis, USA,
Valerie Allain (New Caledonia), Kyle Antonelis, (United States), Filipa Bessa (Portugal), Paritosh Deshpande (Norway), Francois Galgani (French Polynesia), Pingguo He (United States), Christopher Pham (Portugal), Raffaella Piermarini (Italy), Wonjoon Shim, Republic of Korea, Saly N. Thomas (India).
Page last updated: 16 May 2025