Regulation of marine plastics litter: IMO efforts to resolve the crisis

Marine plastics pollution has become a matter of serious concern. There is insufficient research and lack of scientific data regarding its sources, destinations and the consequences befalling on nature and human life. But it is certain that the amount of plastics ending up at sea is alarming and unlikely to disappear anytime soon due to the durability and the large range of plastics use. This chapter examines the effectiveness largely of IMO and its convention instruments in addressing the marine plastics litter crisis. Relevant provisions of UNCLOS are first examined followed by hard and soft law instruments of IMO including MARPOL, the London Convention and its Protocol, and the Hong Kong Convention. It is submitted that while IMO and the mentioned instruments have great potential for regulating the ills of marine plastic litter, several challenges remain which must be met in light of IMO's environmental mandate.