Ahead of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee’s meeting to address plastic pollution, the International Coalition of Fisheries Associations has (ICFA) reiterated that the seafood community and its regulators must remain fully integrated into decision-making regarding potential obligations, measures and targets designed to reduce marine pollution.
‘The INC-4 negotiations include discussion of fishing gear. The seafood industry recognises that certain forms of sea-based marine plastic pollution such as abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), in some cases can be sources of MPL with disproportionately higher adverse impacts on marine biota and habitats,’ an ICFA representative commented.
‘ICFA members support and actively participate in industry efforts to explore fishing technologies and methods such as recycling programs and gear development and monitoring initiatives that would maintain a prosperous fishing industry while also reducing the risk of entanglements.’
In its own resolution on marine plastics, ICFA has made its own position clear that the fishing sector fully supports the elimination of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans.
‘ICFA looks forward to supporting the INC-2 objectives of reducing plastic and improving waste management and recycling methods to prevent harmful pollution in the marine environment,’ a representative commented.
‘The impact on fish and human health due to the ingestion of nano- and microplastic is still unknown and is a rapidly growing area of study. While there has been a plethora of research on the amount and size of plastic in the ocean and on the ingestion by animals, there has been limited research on the actual impact of microplastic on human health. Based on the available science, Microplastic particles in seafood are considered to be a small source of human exposure to these substances compared with other dietary sources.’
In setting out its support for efforts to eliminate plastic waste, ICFA states that it wants to see an international agreement that looks to holistically address legitimate ocean plastic pollution issues on land and sea while also considering the linked goals of ensuring food security, food safety, nutrition and the social and economic sustainability of seafood systems.
Alongside this, ICFA calls for the adoption of a multi-layered government approach to eradicating marine plastic pollution mutually reinforces individual, sub national, national and regional actions.
‘The fishing industry and fisheries agencies are fully integrated into the decision-making process regarding potential marine pollution treaty core obligations and targets, control measures, action plans, and implementation measures,’ ICFA’s representative commented.
‘An international agreement that looks to holistically address legitimate ocean plastic pollution issues, must also consider global food security, food safety, nutrition, and the social and economic sustainability of seafood systems.’
