Citizen engagement : a driver for ocean protection

Cristina Barreau, Clément Moreno

doi:10.32211/lamer.61.3-4_155

Marine litter is a global environmental concern affecting all the oceans and coastlines of the world. More than 8 million tons of plastic enter the oceans each year, contributing to an estimated total abundance of at least 24.4 trillion pieces of plastic particles in the world’s upper oceans. They can be found floating on the surface, in the sediments, in the ice or covering the ocean floor. Since 1990 Surfrider Foundation Europe, has put the fight against marine litter at the forefront of its action. Surfrider acts to better understand this pollution, to reduce the quantitative amount of litter entering the marine environment and its impacts on the marine environment and humans. The NGO’s leverages start with raising public awareness, stimulating scientific research to initiating political action in order to tackle at source this problem. The community and citizens are the heart of action programs, public engagement is the root. Citizens participate in collecting data and answering remaining questions about characteristics, distribution, transport pathways of marine litter and potential impacts on wildlife and humans as well as in policing-making. As a whistle-blower, an expert and an actor of change, Surfrider promotes the dialogue between citizens, scientists and decision-makers.

Citizen engagement : a driver for ocean protection

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