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Shipping spills and plastic pollution: A review of maritime governance in the North Sea
Summary
This review examines the governance landscape for plastic pollution from shipping spills in the North Sea, drawing on analysis of 263 reported incidents from 1917 to 2021 and 11 expert interviews, finding that 39% of container loss incidents occurred in or near the North Sea and that fragmented jurisdiction and weak policy coordination hinder accountability for polluters.
Plastic pollution of our oceans from land-based sources and shipping spills raises concerns for marine ecosystems, maritime industries and human health. This paper examines the systems and processes in place in the case of plastic pollution due to a shipping spill in the North Sea and the instruments and mechanisms to hold polluters accountable. A desk-based analysis was conducted, and 11 expert interviews contextualised the desk findings. From the 263 reported incidents from 1917 to 2021, 39 % of the reported container loss cases occurred in, or near, the North Sea. Fragmented jurisdiction, frail and uncoordinated policies, aid the shipping sector to deflect responsibility. Around 62 % of the obstacles mentioned by the interviewees addressed governance, including, notably, the lack of international measures, and regulations on shipping routes to protect sensitive areas. The study also identifies the difficulty to enforce compensation for the damage made to ecosystems and biodiversity.