German Round Table on Marine Litter
The Roundtable on Marine Litter was established in 2016 as part of an initiative led by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV); the Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt [UBA]); and the Ministry for the Environment, Energy, Construction and Climate Protection of Lower-Saxony, Germany.
It aims to coordinate and support the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and the regional action plans on marine litter of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR) as well as the Baltic Sea (HELCOM).
Marine litter is a complex problem due to its many sources and the numerous ways in which litter reaches the sea. About 150 experts from a wide range of sectors, environmental organisations, associations, federal, state and local authorities, as well as regional and local politicians are represented in the Roundtable.
The Roundtable provides an excellent platform for experts to exchange and offer support, enabling participants to develop recommendations for action with the aim of counteracting further pollution and raising public awareness. It also funds dedicated research and organises stakeholder workshops on different topics.