minimum standards

‘NO DUMPING’ IN MARINE PROTECTED AREAS ISN’T AS CLEAR AS IT SEEMS

‘NO DUMPING’ IN MARINE PROTECTED AREAS ISN’T AS CLEAR AS IT SEEMS

Now we’re watching how the government defines these standards and what the rules will be. For example, there’s currently no definition of what “no dumping” actually means in the context of marine protected areas, or how this commitment will be implemented and enforced. We know dumping wreaks havoc on our environment and poses a risk to wildlife and people. Greywater from sinks, kitchens, showers and washing machines aboard ships can contribute to algal blooms, create ocean dead zones and contain microplastics. Scrubber effluent, which is washwater from cleaning Heavy Fuel Oil exhaust gas, basically turns air pollution into water pollution. Sewage, both treated and untreated, from toilets, can cause fecal contamination in the shellfish we eat.