Plastic pollution has become a menace affecting the marine environment worldwide. It poses threat to the health of the ocean, food security, human health, coastal tourism and also contributes to climate change. The marine plastics are ingested by marine animals and also have the potential of causing suffocation and entanglement to marine life.

The main source of marine plastic comes from land due to inadequate waste disposal and management, beach visitors, industrial activities, construction and illegal dumping.

The plastics are then transported through storm runoffs and sewer bursts into streams and rivers which eventually empty their waters into the ocean resulting in pollution. Therefore, there is a need to protect marine biodiversity by sustainably managing, conserving and restoring coastal and marine ecosystems in order to support the continued provision of ecosystem services.

CEJAD in support with other stakeholders has been working towards protecting marine biodiversity with the aim of combating plastic and waste pollution. This has been done throughpublic education on impacts of plastics to the environment and demonstration of BATs/BEPs such as Source Separation of waste, reuse, recycling and recovery as well as value chain efficiency.