Experts agree that actions are required to tackle the problem of microplastic pollution

Improved international collaboration, joined-up regulation, increased monitoring on local and global level, and an acceleration of science. The panelists at our co-hosted event at the UN Ocean Decade Conference and Ocean Week in Barcelona agreed that these actions are required to tackle the problem of microplastic pollution.

Microplastic pollution affect ecosystems worldwide, from the depths of the ocean to remote mountain tops. Often containing harmful chemicals, microplastics contaminate water bodies, soil, and air, posing severe threats to marine life, wildlife, and human health. Ingested by marine organisms, they disrupt digestive systems and bioaccumulate through the food chain, potentially through to the fish on your dinner plate.

NORCE researcher and scientific coordinator of the North Atlantic Microplastic Centre Alessio Gomiero addressed the complexity of the science and monitoring required to better understand the issue and support improved regulation.

– In terms of rules and regulation we need to stay open to the changing science on microplastic toxicity and its transportation dynamics. From the impact of degraded plastics to car tyre particles, paint particles and their associated additives there are novel areas of research emerging which demand to be addressed. It’s vital that further research is carried out on the behaviour of microplastics in the environment to provide new insights to regulators.

Thanks to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with partner organisations for co-organizing our satellite event ‘Global Awareness, Research Activities, and Network to address Ocean Microplastic Pollution’ as part of the UN Ocean Decade Conference and Ocean Week.

During the ‘Addressing Marine Microplastic Pollution’ session of the event, Alessio Gomiero were joined by Dr James Clark, Marine Ecosystem Modeller at Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) and Andy Booth chief scientist at SINTEF Ocean.

During the second panel session a number of success stories of marine plastic monitoring networks at international level were showcased by a number of distinguished panelists, including Florence Descroix-Comanducci, Director IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories, Keshnee Pillay, Department of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment South Africa, Noriko Tamiya-Hase, Ministry of Environment Japan, and Captain Arias-Isaza, Director General INVEMAR Colombia.