인천앞바다의 해양쓰레기 종합관리 정책

Abstract

Marine and coastal environment provides economic sources for fisheries and harbour industries, supports local economies by tourism, and presents aesthetic beauty to local residents. However, rapid industrialization lead to large discharge of industrial waste, sewage, domestic waste, etc. to the ocean and makes marine and coastal environments getting polluted. Marine litter is one of the pollutants which destroys marine and coastal environments. Considerable amounts of marine litter are directly or indirectly discharged into Incheon Coastal Waters. As a result, marine litter accumulated on the beaches and the sea bottom in Incheon Coastal Waters. To remove marine litter in Incheon Coastal Waters, many works have been conducted, such as cost-sharing programme to raise budget for those activities, purchasing marine waste programmes (“buy back programme”) from fisherman, preventing floating debris by a trash boom, collecting litter by ocean cleaning vessel, treating, incinerating and recycling of marine litter, and increasing public awareness. This study provides examples of integrated marine litter managements that have been established in Incheon Coastal Waters in order to compile information on the current status of the marine litter management and to create the foundation for further co-operation with the Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP) Members as well as other sea area of the world.