Review of Plastic Pollution Policies of Arctic Countries in Relation to Seabirds

Abstract

This report is part of an initiative by the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) Working Group of the Arctic Council to better understand the effects of plastic pollution in the ocean on Arctic seabirds. Developed via CAFFs Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative (AMBI), in collaboration with the Circumpolar Seabird Expert Group (CBird), this report provides a review of the policies of Arctic countries that address marine plastic related to Arctic-breeding seabirds. Additional components of this work include a review of literature related to the vulnerability of Arctic breeding- seabirds to plastic pollution including ingestion and entanglement in the Arctic, and the development of a pan-Arctic framework for monitoring plastic pollution in seabirds in the Arctic. This work contributes to the implementation of the Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter being developed by the Arctic Council via the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) Working Group.