- Plastic can be found practically everywhere in the maritime seas of Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, according to Mr. Jens Otto Krakstad, a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Maritime Research in Norway and Cruise Leader for the Research Vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen.
- “We see plastic pollution in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire almost everywhere; we are catching it in almost every tour, and it is certainly a big problem for the whole region, not just for Ghana,” he said. “There is a clear need to do something about it.”
- He added that there was a lot of plastic garbage in the catches when he initially arrived in the area in 2004 for scientific work and that this issue has gotten worse over time.
- He pointed out that plastic comes from both land and the ocean, adding that ships at sea whose sailors have a terrible habit of disposing of their trash in the water have also contributed to the problem of plastic pollution.
- “Action must be taken to address the plastic pollution issue,” he continued.
- In the meantime, the UN Environment Programme-led Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee is creating an internationally legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN.
- According to the FAO, which provided technical assistance on fisheries and aquaculture, the organization was actively engaging in the consultations, as indicated in the 2024 State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture paper that was made accessible to the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
- The International Maritime Organization (IMO) states that marine litter is a major issue in the oceans, with some scientists predicting that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish.
Source:
ghanabusinessnews
