Marine Litter
Marine litter is widespread and poses a threat to wildlife in and around the sea, and may also pose a risk to human health. Marine litter has recently gained significant attention and there is now a consensus for action. However, that requires more knowledge and a thorough understanding of this increasing global problem.
SALT maps quantities and transport of marine litter, and we identify sources and causes to litter ending up in nature. The knowledge we build is then transfered into concrete preventative measures or communicated to decisionmakers. We want to contribute to an efficient and knowledge-based monitoring of marine litter, and to be able to track changes over time. SALT also plays an important role in the development of new value chains for marine litter or plastic waste from maritime industries. Last, but not least, SALT is a key player in organising profsessional beach clean-ups in Norway.
Projects
Publications
News
Kjersti Eline Tønnessen Busch from SALT had the pleasure of moderating a strong panel that discussed Norway’s salmon aquaculture industry, when Meieriet Library in Vestvågøy invited for debate this week. The pros and cons of salmon farming were debated — an industry that creates activity and jobs in coastal communities and produces food that generates significant export revenues. At the same time, however, it has a negative impact on wild salmon and struggles with animal welfare issues and nutrient pollution. The panel consisted of Tormod Henry Skålsvik from Nova Sea AS, Kristoffer Høyning from Multigen Akva, Martin Eggen from BirdLife Norway, and Simen Sætre, who co-authored the book The New Fish together with Kjetil Østlie.
At SALT, we are extremely proud to lead the world’s largest professional cleanup initiative, Rydd i tide. We carry out this work on behalf of the program owner, the Norwegian Retailers’ Environmental Fund (Handelens Miljøfond). Thanks to Rydd i tide, which is financed through the plastic bag levy, half of Norway’s outer coastline has now been cleaned. Here are some of the results so far:
- Over 4,300 tonnes of waste have been removed.
- More than 31,500 km of coastline have been cleaned.
- A completely new profession has emerged: kystrenovatører—professional cleanup workers dedicated to keeping our coast clean.
As program coordinator, we take great joy in following this effort closely every day.
Read more about the results of Rydd i tide on the Norwegian Retailers’ Environmental Fund’s website here.