RT Report
T1 Understanding of Floating Marine Litter Distribution in the NOWPAP Region - MERRAC Technical Report No. 35
A1 United Nations Environment Programme, 
A1 Marine Environmental Emergency Preparedness and Response Regional Activity Centre of the Northwest Pacific Action Plan, 
A2 An, Lihui
A2 Isobe, Atsuhiko
A2 Vysotskaya, Maria
K1 marine pollution
K1 Asia and the Pacific
K1 Japan
K1 China
K1 Russia
K1 Republic of Korea
K1 ocean current
PB Marine Environmental Emergency Preparedness and Response Regional Activity Centre the Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP MERRAC)
SN 978-89-93604-36-8
YR 2017
FD 2017
LK https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/26239
UL https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/26239
NO This report from a regional marine environmental emergency response center provides an analysis of floating marine litter distribution in the Northwest Pacific region. Drawing on extensive monitoring data collected from 2007 to 2015 across China, Japan, Korea, and Russia, it details the composition, sources, and seasonal variations of marine debris, with a particular focus on plastics such as bottles, bags, and fishing gear. The report leverages satellite data and ocean current modeling to trace the transboundary movement of litter influenced by prominent currents like the Kuroshio and Tsushima. Highlighting hotspots along coastlines and the role of land-based versus sea-based origins, it underscores the challenges of accurate measurement at sea and on beaches through innovative aerial photography and particle tracking models. The findings emphasize the critical need for ongoing regional cooperation, advanced numerical modeling, and strengthened monitoring.
NO Chapter 1. IntroductionChapter 2. Marine Litter as a Global Environmental Problem2.1. Floating Marine Litter2.2. Major Ocean Currents in the NOWPAP RegionChapter 3. Floating Marine Litter Distribution in the NOWPAP Region3.1. People’s Republic of China3.2. Japan3.3. Republic of KoreaChapter 4. Possible Trajectory of the Floating Marine Litter in the NOWPAP Region4.1. Japan4.2. Russian FederationChapter 5. Conclusion and RecommendationsReference
DS UN Environment Document Repository
RD Sep 18, 2026