COastal Management and MOnitoring Network for tackling marine litter in Mediterranean Sea (COMMON)

Marine litter is quickly becoming one of the main pollution sources of the Mediterranean Sea, with negative consequences for living marine organisms, marine ecosystems, human health and coastal activities, including tourism and fisheries. Combating the issue of marine litter requires a global effort at basin level through a multi-institutional and multi-stakeholder approach that tackles the different and competing environmental, economic, social, cultural and recreational drivers that can affect marine ecosystems. The COMMON project will apply the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) principles to the challenge of marine litter, improving knowledge of the phenomenon, enhancing the environmental performance of 5 pilot coastal areas in Italy, Tunisia and Lebanon, and engaging local stakeholders in marine litter management. 

Thanks to an improved knowledge of the marine litter phenomenon, specific training and capacity building activities addressed to local and regional authorities, MPAs, Turtles Rescue Centres and citizens, thematic awareness campaign and material, targeted networking activities at basin level, COMMON project will engage local communities in incorporating marine litter management and disposal in coastal planning with the ICZM approach.

The project specific objective is to enhanced the capacity of public authorities in the 5 selected areas to plan for sustainable management, use and monitoring of marine litter sources, treatment and consequences, employing an effective participatory approach involving relevant stakeholders and local communities.