South Asia Fights Marine Pollution

The benefits and implications of acceding to the 1996 London Protocol on the prevention of marine pollution by dumping of wastes and other matter in the South Asian Seas Region were discussed at a regional workshop in Dhaka, Bangladesh (10-11 July).

According to a note from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the main objectives of the workshops were to inform relevant authorities of the benefits and implications of ratifying, implementing and enforcing the London Protocol.

The purpose of the London Convention is to control all sources of marine pollution and prevent pollution of the sea through the regulation of dumping into the sea of waste materials. A special emphasis was also placed on the protection of ports and ocean environment.

The regional workshop was followed up by a national workshop for Bangladesh (12 July), attended by around 30 participants from Government ministries, agencies, state enterprises and academia.

The regional workshop was attended by participants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Lead by IMO and the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP), the event was hosted by the Government of Bangladesh in Dhaka.