Coral Triangle Region Faces Escalating Plastic Pollution Crisis

Press Release:

Coral Triangle Region Faces Escalating Plastic Pollution Crisis

The latest report by CTI-CFF and WWF calls for a regional strategy to urgently address the escalating global plastic crisis, which continues to disproportionately affect the Coral Triangle.

31 August 2023 – The Coral Triangle, renowned for its unparalleled marine biodiversity, is estimated to generate a staggering 6.2 million tonnes of mismanaged plastic waste annually. If current practices continue, this figure could double by 2025, severely impacting human and ecosystem health, as well as key industries such as fishing, aquaculture, tourism, and shipping that millions of coastal communities rely on for income, livelihoods, and food security.

The stocktake report, “Marine Plastic Pollution and Its Sources in the Coral Triangle”, published by the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) and the WWF Coral Triangle Programme, aims to provide a regional strategy based on the findings.

Most of the plastic waste entering the Coral Triangle originates from land-based sources. Poor waste management, limited recycling systems, and insufficient regulations—compounded by large inflows of plastic from other countries—worsen the problem. At the same time, rising demand for plastics, particularly single-use packaging, continues unabated.

"Analysis of the plastic pollution situation within the Coral Triangle reveals a highly intricate challenge that necessitates systemic change," said Dr. Mohd Kushairi bin Mohd Rajuddin, Executive Director of CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat in Manado, North Sulawesi.

To address this, CTI-CFF is developing scalable action programs and management plans to protect marine ecosystems, conserve biodiversity, and support sustainable livelihoods. The Regional Plan of Action 2.0 outlines strategic measures to combat waste management and marine pollution, with a focus on reducing plastic threats to fisheries and endangered species.

“The stocktake confirms that marine plastic pollution is complex, with no single solution. A systemic shift addressing both upstream production and downstream waste management is needed to prevent between 2.2 and 5.9 million tonnes of plastic from entering the ocean annually from the six Coral Triangle countries,” said Jackie Thomas, author of the report from WWF Coral Triangle Programme.

In March 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2) recognized plastic pollution as a global crisis. The six Coral Triangle nations supported the establishment of an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to finalize a global treaty on plastic pollution by the end of 2024.

"Seven key national recommendations emerged from this stocktake, emphasizing strengthened national policies, cross-sectoral coordination, adoption of circular economy and zero-waste business models, and alignment with the Global Plastic Treaty framework," added Kushairi.

The report also documents 16 regional initiatives led by CTI-CFF strategic partners and other stakeholders, 40 national government-led initiatives across the Coral Triangle (as of 2021), and 10 case studies highlighting challenges and opportunities in Marine Protected Areas, urban coastal areas, and ghost fishing gear management.

Recommendations stress the importance of collaboration with academia, civil society, and the industrial sector to strengthen research, data collection, monitoring, and advocacy for optimal solutions. "Strengthening multilateral cooperation and information exchange through CTI-CFF working groups is crucial," Kushairi emphasized.

"Coastal and island communities often lack resources for alternatives to plastic or for managing plastic waste. This stocktake aims to ensure that the Coral Triangle regional strategy considers the financial and human capacity needed to address escalating land- and sea-based waste across urban centers and remote islands,” said Klaas Jan Teule, Leader of WWF’s Coral Triangle Programme.

The report highlights the contribution of discarded fishing gear, or ghost gear, to marine pollution, threatening turtles, rare sharks, and marine mammals. Examples of industry, community, and NGO initiatives addressing this issue are included in the stocktake report. (*)

Contacts:

Dewi Satriani, Communication and Information Manager, CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat
Email: dewi.satriani@cticff.org | Phone: +62 811910970

Jia Ling Lim, Senior Manager Communications and Knowledge Management, WWF Coral Triangle Programme
Email: jllim@wwf.sg | Phone: +65 92980961

Notes to Editor:

The stocktake report “Marine Plastic Pollution and Its Sources in the Coral Triangle” is available for download at: https://www.coraltriangleinitiative.org/library/marine-plastic-pollution-and-its-sources-coral-triangle

Key Factors Contributing to High Plastic Waste in the Coral Triangle:

• Poor waste management and low recycling rates;
• Inadequate legal frameworks and enforcement;
• Insufficient data on plastic sources and leakage;
• Limited financial and human capacity to manage waste;
• Unsustainable production and consumption, especially of single-use plastics;
• Resource-constrained coastal and island communities;
• Influx of plastic waste from other countries;
• Ghost gear from expanding fisheries contributing to marine pollution.

About the Coral Triangle:

The Coral Triangle spans approximately 6 million sq km across Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste. It hosts 76% of the world’s known coral species, 37% of coral reef fish species, and commercially valuable species such as tuna, whales, dolphins, rays, sharks, and six of the world’s seven marine turtle species.

About CTI-CFF:

Established in 2009, the CTI-CFF is a multilateral partnership of six countries working together to sustain biodiversity conservation and food security through the sustainable management of marine resources, taking climate change impacts into account. The six member countries focus on conserving coral reefs and associated ecosystems within the Coral Triangle region. The Regional Plan of Action (RPOA) 2.0 outlines CTI-CFF’s strategic directions, goals, and regional priorities. For more information, visit: www.coraltriangleinitiative.org