United States Federal Strategy for Addressing the Global Issue of Marine Litter

The United States Federal Strategy for Addressing the Global Issue of Marine Litter is a national sectoral strategy. Its main objectives are building capacity for better waste and litter management systems, including through improving infrastructure, government coordination, and public education and engagement; incentivizing the global recycling market in partnership with the private sector; promoting research and development for innovative solutions and technology; and promoting marine litter removal, including litter capture systems in seas, rivers and inland waterways.
More specifically, the Strategy aims for developing and helping to facilitate the implementation of industry Best Management Practices designed to minimize the abandonment of vessels and the accidental loss of cargo, solid waste and gear at sea; building capacity to implement, monitor, and enforce compliance with national and local legislation and relevant international instruments and agreements addressing sea-based sources of marine litter; advocating for efforts that recycle retired and/or retrieved gear into new products; supporting the development and promoting the use of innovations in the design and application of gear to reduce gear loss at sea, such as through NOAA’s Fishing for Energy program; expanding the application of advanced technologies to marine debris prevention and removal; developing resources and guidance to assist in the assessment, removal, and disposal of abandoned and derelict vessels; and developing and promoting the use of fishing gear modifications or alternative technologies.