Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L01047:reg:7:p3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L01047
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 7 (pt 3/3)
Character Range: 20252–22436

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           Australia is also working regionally and internationally to address the issue of marine debris, particularly through the United Nations General Assembly, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, the International Whaling Commission and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.
           Australia is a member of the International Whaling Commission's entanglement response network, which includes an entanglement response capacity building program incorporating threat mitigation relating to large marine debris. Australian scientists have also been involved in the International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee's program 'Pollution 2020,' which is studying the origin, fate and distribution of microplastics. As chair of the Commission's Standing Working Group on Conservation Management Plans, Australia is working to incorporate consideration of marine debris into existing and new conservation management plans, which are a practical tool for improving the conservation status of at-risk cetaceans.
           Most plastic enters the ocean from a small geographic area, with over half coming from five rapidly growing economies—China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam (Ocean Conservancy, 2015). Recent, significant economic gains, reduced poverty, and improved quality of life in these countries have generated demand for consumer products that has not yet been met with a commensurate waste management infrastructure.
           As well as improving waste, litter and stormwater management domestically, improving marine debris management in regional developing countries will improve outcomes for Australia's marine wildlife, particularly for migratory species that use areas affected by these international sources. This will require immense resources and effort, beyond the scope of this plan. However, while marine debris is the result of outflow of waste from global economic activity, much can be done by Australia domestically to provide leadership and coordination in limiting further contributions of marine debris to the ocean.