Marine Litter Watch

Marine litter is a growing problem for Europe’s seas and coasts. It threatens marine life, ecosystems, human activities, and health, while also creating economic costs for sectors that depend on the sea. To address this challenge, European policies such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) aim to reduce marine litter and prevent pollution at source. The Marine Litter Watch (MLW) initiative, coordinated by the European Environment Agency since 2013, involves communities, NGOs, schools, scientists, and citizens in monitoring beach litter.