A.3.1 Riverine inputs of macro litter and micro litter monitoring
Action Theme: Theme A: Actions to reduce land-based sources of marine litter
Action number: A.3.1
Action Title: Monitor, prevent and reduce riverine inputs of macro litter to the marine environment and share knowledge on micro litter monitoring
Lead Party(ies): France, Belgium, Netherlands with support from Germany, United Kingdom and KIMO
Image: ©Baramyou0708_Shutterstock.com
What is the issue?
Riverine litter is a significant pathway of marine litter that requires international exchange and cooperation. There is currently no regional platform for monitoring of riverine litter, or the develop measures to address this issue.
What has OSPAR done?
OSPAR will seek to fill this gap in regional cooperation by developing a monitoring strategy that will complement existing monitoring under the MSFD. It will also look to draw together best practices to prevent and reduce riverine inputs of macro litter.
OSPAR Riverine Litter Workshops
In June 2025, OSPAR’s Riverine litter Expert Group (REG) and the action group for action A.3.1 of OSPAR’s second Regional Action Plan on marine litter held a workshop on two products they are working on, these being 1) the monitoring guidelines for riverbank litter, and 2) the development of best practices for source prevention of riverine litter.
Annex 2: Slides on monitoring guidelines
Annex 3: Slides on source prevention
Final outputs and published reports
This action will deliver a series of outputs including best practice guidance, a monitoring strategy and knowledge sharing.
Scoping study on methods for riverine litter monitoring (2024)
