US, EU and partners tackling plastic pollution of the ocean

The US Embassy has announced an interactive exhibition entitled An Ocean Free of Plastic that will be open to the public at the Malta National Aquarium in Qawra until 10 October.

The public is invited to learn more about ocean plastic pollution and what we can do to prevent it. The US Embassy thanks its partner, the Malta National Aquarium, for its invaluable support.

Plastic pollution is a serious threat to our oceans, putting fragile ecosystems, marine life, economic livelihoods, and human health at risk. Every year, ten million tons of plastic are discharged into the ocean, where they can remain for up to 400 years.

The exhibition is the result of a partnership between the US, the European Commission, the National Aquarium of Denmark (Den Blå Planet), and NGO Plastic Change. Through this partnership, a public education exhibition that was first shown in Copenhagen last year has since travelled to Estonia and Portugal and has now arrived in Malta from where it will travel to Italy. The exhibition highlights US and EU leadership in tackling marine litter.

The fight against plastic pollution is one of four main strands of the 2017 Our Ocean confer- ence that will be hosted by the European Union in Malta on 5 and 6 October.

High-level ocean champions from around the world will gather under the motto Our Ocean – an Ocean for Life to emphasise the importance of ocean protection and sustainability. Initiated by the United States in 2014, the first three Our Ocean conferences have resulted in more than €850 billion in commitments to ocean projects worldwide.

However, everyone can take simple steps to prevent plastic from ending up in the sea. An Ocean Free of Plastic raises awareness about plastics pollution, describes the impact of micro-plastics on the ocean environment and suggests ways in which people can help in their own homes.

Contact the Malta National Aquarium to learn about the various activities that are being organised for children and young people.

As well as the National Aquarium of Denmark (Den Blå Planet) and Plastic Change, exhibition partners include the European Union (EU) Directorate General for Maritime Issues and Fisheries and US Embassies in Copenhagen, Tallinn, Lisbon, Valletta and Rome, as well as local host partners.