The 14th Marine Litter Summit 2016 Mie Conference
Toba Appeal

Introduction
Oceans provide us with so much – they are indeed the common heritage of mankind.
There is deep concern that the vast amounts and types of litter that ends up in theocean are having an adverse impact on marine biodiversity and human health. Litter
washing up along our shores is only a small part of our household trash that makes its
way down rivers to the sea, or waste that ends up overboard off the coast.
To coordinate the collection of litter and prevent waste from being generated, NGOsand NPOs across various regions and globally are working with government bodies,residents, researchers and private businesses to help make a difference.
Toba City in Mie Prefecture has produced a DVD that covers the issue of marine litter inan effort to raise awareness amongst residents. Throughout fiscal year 2015, a total of
1,500 volunteers joined cleanup activities and collected 45 tons of litter from along ourshorelines. The issue of marine litter is increasing in severity throughout the Mie
Prefecture, and we recognize that this needs to be addressed by the entire region. We
have pioneered efforts to coordinate activities by residents and government bodies
across all regions and administrative areas.
Following the commitment of last year’s G7 Leader’s Declaration, the G7 Ise-Shima
Leaders' Declaration at the Ise-Shima Summit held in Mie Prefecture declared, “Wereaffirm our commitment to address marine litter, recognizing that our efforts on
resource efficiency and the 3Rs also contribute to the prevention and reduction ofmarine litter, particularly plastic, from land-based sources”.
We held “the 14th Marine Litter Summit 2016 Mie Conference” (hereafter, the MieConference) over three days from October 28 in Ise City and Toshijima in Toba City,
covering three topics: biodiversity and marine litter; preventing plastic litter washingashore; and coordination around the Asia Pacific region. The conference involved
members from the government, local administrative bodies and private businesses, aswell as researchers, residents and staff from Japanese and international NGOs andNPOs, to share information through presentations, constructive debate and discussion.

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Biodiversity and marine litter
Over the past several years since the National Biodiversity Strategy of Japan wasfinalized in 2012, there have been improvements to investigative studies on marine
pollution caused by microplastics. Various studies raised concerns over the adverse
impact that pollution will have in the future on the entire ecosystem, including humanhealth.
In light of such concerns, discussions aimed at revising the next iteration of the National
Biodiversity Strategy led to plastic litter being raised as one of the most pressing issues
related to marine pollution. We call for action and support to incorporate efficient andsystematic policies into the strategy to address this issue.
We also propose that NGOs and NPOs work together to examine what types of harm
plastic litter is causing to wildlife and identify current situations, while looking at existingcases in countries and regions around the Asia Pacific region.

Reduction and Prevention of Plastic Litter Entering the Ocean
In the lead-up to the G7 Ise-Shima Summit, NGOs and NPOs presented a message
entitled, “To the Leaders and People of G7 Member States: Proposals for Pursuit ofGenuine Prosperity through River Basin Thinking.” Referring to the case study, “22ndCentury Nasanohama Project,” which was launched in 2012 by environmental groups inIse Bay basin areas in Mie, Gifu and Aichi prefectures addressing the issue of marine
and river litter, the message proposed to “advocate the ‘Ise Bay Initiative’, aiming torealize a sustainable and productive future based on bio-regional thinking beyond ourperspective and values. Presenting the following experience and good practices, it
proposes to the leaders and the people of G7 member states to share the idea of “IseBay Initiative” and work together internationally for a better future.”
The Mie Conference shared the details of this proposal, and also on the basis of reportsof microplastics present within river systems in Japan, called for studies to be
conducted to identify the actual state of microplastics in coastal waters and how they
are being released into river basins.
Another approach suggested by the Mie Conference attendees was to use the Ise Bay
river basin area as a model and encourage national and local government bodies,
NGOs and NPOs, private businesses, residents and researchers to coordinate efforts
for developing effective policies aimed at reducing plastic litter and to publish any
findings on a national and international level.
2Cooperation among Asia-Pacific Region
Immense quantities of debris were washed away into the oceans in the aftermath of the2011 Great East Japan earthquake and floated offshore with some quantities washingashore around America and Canada. Communities along those coastlines embarked oncleanup activities, while also respecting the Japanese people affected by the disaster.
Tsunami debris also revived concerns over the issue of plastic litter in the aquaticenvironment. Ocean pollution caused by plastic litter ending up into the sea as a resultof natural disasters or ordinary human activities is a global issue, and the need forinternational efforts extending beyond regional or national boundaries was reaffirmed at
the Mie Conference.
Similar to compensation funds that are available to cover damage resulting from oilspills, we will call for relevant organizations to establish an international fund to protect
our precious oceans from pollution caused by plastic litter.

In conclusion
In addition to expanding cleanup activities along coastlines and rivers around Ise Bay sothat we may continue to enjoy its rich fisheries products in a sustainable manner, theMie Conference shared the importance of shifting from today’s production, consumption
and disposal-oriented society, to a resource recycling and circular economy structure,
particularly with regards to plastic products.
People living along Ise Bay and other coastlines and rivers around Japan need to work
together with those living in the Asia Pacific basin and around the world who areaddressing the issue of marine litter. To facilitate this, we will continue taking action toincorporate the suggestions raised at the Mie Conference.

October 30th, 2016
The 14th Marine Litter Summit 2016 Mie Conference
Volunteer appeal3

The 14th Marine Litter Summit 2016 Mie Conference Toba Appeal【Supplement】
The following items are presented in conjunction with the main text as a summary of additional
opinions and thoughts from the discussions of the participants gathered and sorted at the 14thMarine Litter Summit 2016 Mie conference in regards to the Toba Appeal.

１．Basic Understanding◯ We must recognize firmly that the sea is the common property of all living creatures on earth
including mankind and not just the “the common heritage of mankind” as stated in the UN
Convention on the Law of the Sea.
◯ To promote the society wide understanding of the issues with marine litter, we must put effort
in communicating the issue to wider audiences at every opportunity.

2．Biodiversity and Marine Litter◯ An eco-label is needed as the international standard that tells consumers that the product isharmless to the biodiversity.
◯ In the fisheries and aquaculture industry also, it is important to reduce the use of products
such as Styrofoam that leads to marine litter.

3．Reduction and Prevention of Plastic Litter Entering the Ocean◯ Towards the reduction of plastic products, 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) need to be furtheredwith a particular emphasis on the concept of reduce.
◯ Extended Producer Responsibility of companies is now being widely recognized in Europeand the U.S. In Japanese society also, we shall seek to spread the concept for the mitigationof marine litter.
◯ In Mie prefecture, the use of single use plastic has been successfully reduced in light ofclimate change mitigation. Nation wide adoption of this regional success as a model would bean effective strategy for reducing marine litter.
◯ Microbeads play relatively small role in the marine micro plastic pollution. However, they caneasily be prevented from reaching the sea by banning the use. This warrants a swift
introduction of a policy banning the use of microbeads instead of just leaving it up toconsumer decision.
◯ We propose to set up facilities, such as water filling stations, to reduce the use of single use
containers like PET bottles towards the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

4．Cooperation among Asia-Pacific Region◯ As a source of international fund, we propose to charge a fee for manufacture and sales ofplastic products. This would encourage favorable consumer decisions on purchasing andwould lead to reduction of excessive production, consumption, and waste or plastic products.
◯ Together with setting up an international fund, it would be necessary to set up a third party
institution responsible for fair and just distribution of the fund.

5．Other◯ We shall devise ways to invite more children who are the future generation into activities ofNPOs and the like to conserve the local marine or river environment.
◯ As marine litter problem has the nature that warrants all people to be aware of, we shall work
towards having it be part of the school text such as in primary schools as a first step to create
the shared understanding of the problem.

End.