Members of the British-Irish Council have pledged to take further, collaborative action to tackle marine litter.
At a Marine Litter Symposium, hosted by the Scottish Government on Friday 22 February, Environment ministers from across the Council’s member administrations committed to working together, with industry, to develop a solution for the recycling of end-of-life fishing gear.
Members also committed to co-operative working to further reduce the loss of pre-production plastics, commonly referred to as nurdles, across the supply chain, and also to improve marine litter education for young people, and the fishing industry.
The symposium took place at Strathclyde University’s Technology and Innovation Centre and was chaired by Scottish Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham.
Geoffrey Boot MHK, Minister for the Isle of Man Department of Environment, Food & Agriculture, said:
‘This week’s Marine Litter Symposium has been an important topic for the Isle of Man and I welcome the pledge to work together through the British-Irish Council to tackle marine litter.
‘This is an international issue, so a united, joined up approach with other British-Irish Council members will help us all to reduce this problem and by sharing our ideas we can take further, necessary steps towards protecting the international marine environment, and as an Island, continue to protect Biosphere Isle of Man, our beautiful beaches and Marine Nature Reserves.’
