Frequent Marine Debris Prompts EPA to Finalize Comprehensive Coastal Environmental Cleanup and Maintenance Plan Within Three Months

With only one week left until World Oceans Day on 6/8, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) held a press conference today on the handling of marine debris, stating that within three months it will follow the approach of the "Air Pollution Control Strategy" to formulate a comprehensive control plan and report it to the Executive Yuan, combining the efforts of various ministries and local governments for joint implementation. This marks a shift away from the previous piecemeal approach, and together with existing plastic restriction policies, it is hoped that the growing marine crisis can be addressed from three aspects: "sea surface, beaches and land," restoring the ocean to its original appearance.

Marine Debris Keeps Piling Up; EPA: Comprehensive "Coastal Environmental Cleanup and Maintenance Plan" to Be Finalized Within Three Months

According to an EPA survey, Taiwan's marine debris is currently divided into beach litter and seabed (floating) debris. Over 70% of beach litter consists of plastic waste, including styrofoam and plastic fragments. In coastal waters such as the Tamsui River estuary, Lanyang River estuary, Tainan's Anping Port and Beinan River estuary, most of the debris consists of tin and aluminum cans, glass bottles, scrap iron and plastic bags. In areas near major fishing ports such as Nanwan and Jialeshui in Kenting, abandoned fishing nets and rubber hoses are more common. Tin and aluminum cans alone account for 45% of the total.

In order to tackle the increasingly serious marine debris problem, EPA Deputy Administrator Chan Shun-kuei pointed out that the EPA had already established a "Marine Floating Debris Handling Plan" in March of year 104 (2015), aiming to achieve waste reduction through two major directions: source reduction and cleanup and disposal. On May 24 of this year, the EPA also received a request from the Executive Yuan requiring it to follow the precedent of the earlier "Air Pollution Prevention Strategy" and formulate a comprehensive "Coastal Environmental Cleanup and Maintenance Plan" within three months. Chan also emphasized that the EPA is accelerating the amendment of the "Marine Pollution Prevention and Control Act," hoping that incidents such as the oil pollution in Green Island can carry heavier penalties. In the future, whether businesses act intentionally or negligently, the regulations will provide relevant control measures to respond.

Marine Debris Pollution Reaches Serious Levels! Fishing Waste and Household Plastics Dominate; International Experts Discuss Solutions