The Office of the United States Trade Representative today concluded a United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement workshop focused on ongoing efforts to mitigate marine litter and ghost nets in Mexico.  Over 70 participants from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), federal agencies, and private sector entities shared experiences, best practices, and challenges in the reduction and prevention of marine litter. 

USTR opened the meeting by underscoring the importance of collaboration and partnership under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), particularly in the area of preventing and reducing marine litter, a key commitment in the USMCA environment chapter. During the workshop, representatives from 16 NGOs as well as government officials from the United States and Mexico, shared information on ongoing efforts to prevent and reduce marine litter in order to preserve human health and marine and coastal ecosystems, prevent the loss of biodiversity, and mitigate the cost and impacts of marine litter.

Workshop participants also emphasized the importance of local community engagement and outreach, and shared strategies to engage communities in mitigation efforts, including the need for education in schools, support to local fishers, and coordination of local volunteers.  Participants pledged to continue to enhance efforts to combat marine litter and ghost nets. USTR will continue to monitor efforts to prevent and reduce marine litter to ensure effective implementation of the USMCA environment commitments.

Original source can be found here.