PADI seeks to have its Dive Against Debris initiative adopted into Global Plastics Treaty
Diver training agency, PADI, and its global not-for-profit PADI AWARE Foundation, are seeking to have the agency’s Dive Against Debris initiative adopted into the Global Plastics Treaty during discussions held by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Negotiations Committee (INC)
The negotiations have arisen in light of the historic March 2022 resolution to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including its impacts on the marine environment. INC-5, the fifth in a series of ongoing negotiations will take place in Busan, South Korea this November.
‘This year we have an incredibly significant opportunity to turn the tide on plastics and are taking on the responsibility for being the voice for the ocean and the global scuba diving community known as Ocean Torchbearers,’ says Danna Moore, Director of PADI AWARE.
‘It also offers a major leap forward towards meeting PADI’s Blueprint for Ocean Action goal to reduce marine debris by 50 per cent in targeted countries,’ added Moore. ‘PADI and PADI AWARE Foundation are the only organizations representing the global recreational dive community in the ongoing official negotiations leading up to the anticipated agreement of the treaty in 2025.’
PADI’s Dive Against Debris programme is the driving force behind the world’s largest citizen science-led marine debris database. Since 2011 more than 100,000 divers and snorkellers have removed some 2.4 million pieces of marine debris across 121 countries, 70 per cent of which is plastic. More than 35,000 marine animals have also reportedly been freed from entanglement during the process.
Data collected from the Dive Against Debris initiative has helped influence government policy, such as Vanuatu’s recent banning of plastic bags and helping to inform single-use plastic policies in Australia.
If the Dive Against Debris programme is adopted into the Global Plastics Treaty, it would be recognised as an approved methodology for governments to monitor and report marine debris in order to drive change in waste-management systems and plastic supply chains around the world.
‘Dive Against Debris is currently the only global debris removal activity that does not have a detrimental impact on fragile habitats such as seagrass and coral reefs,’ said Moore. ‘If included, we are prepared to work with governments to ensure that the removal of plastic pollution does not damage marine habitats,’
PADI’s Global Plastic Treaty petition
PADI is calling on ocean enthusiasts worldwide to sign its petition for the Global Plastics Treaty to include the Dive Against Debris initiative, and encouraging scuba divers to get their Dive Against Debris certification and take part in underwater clean-up events.
‘Over the last three years in particular, PADI’s community of ocean advocates have helped secure significant wins for the ocean through signing similar petitions,’ said Moore.
‘In 2021 they helped us secure protection for Mako Sharks at the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) and in 2022 they helped us secure protection of requiem sharks at the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).’
‘For 30 years PADI has been ridding the underwater world of plastic and, together, we can finally turn the tide,’ added Moore. ‘Now, we are rallying the global community once again for 100,000 signatures so we will be one step closer to a plastic-free ocean.’
To learn more about PADI’s involvement in the Global Plastics Treaty and sign the petition, visit www.padi.com/global-plastics-treaty.
