The International Maritime Organization’s Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response has agreed on a draft updated strategy and action plan to tackle plastic pollution from ships, including fishing vessels.
Meeting at IMO Headquarters in London from 9 to 13 February 2026 for its 13th session (PPR 13), the Sub-Committee finalized the draft 2026 Strategy and Action Plan to Address Marine Plastic Litter from Ships, to be submitted for adoption by the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 84) when it convenes from 27 April to 1 May 2026.
Cutting shipping’s contribution to ocean litter
Once adopted, the 2026 Strategy and Action Plan will supersede IMO’s 2021 marine plastics strategy and 2025 action plan, bringing them together in a single, streamlined approach while reaffirming the Organization’s ambition to achieve zero plastic waste discharges to sea from ships by 2030.
The updated Strategy and Action Plan will focus on:
- Reducing shipping’s contribution to ocean plastic pollution;
- Improving the effectiveness of port reception facilities and ship waste processing; and
- Strengthening international regulations and compliance.
Actions will also boost seafarer training, public awareness and regulatory knowledge, as well as strengthen technical cooperation and capacity-building for Member States.
Action on pellets and fishing gear
In addition, the Sub-Committee advanced more targeted workstreams addressing marine litter from ships:
Plastic pellets (“nurdles”)
The Sub-Committee examined legal pathways to reduce environmental risks from pellets transported in freight containers, which can affect the environment when spills occur at sea or in ports.
It recommended that MEPC 84 consider developing a new code to regulate the maritime transport of plastic pellets in freight containers, to be made mandatory under MARPOL Annex III and/or SOLAS Conventions.
Fishing gear
To combat abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear, which remains a significant source of ocean plastic pollution, the Sub-Committee approved a draft circular promoting the implementation of fishing-gear marking systems and the FAO Voluntary Guidelines on Marking of Fishing Gear. This will be submitted for approval to MEPC 84.
The Voluntary Guidelines on Marking of Fishing Gear aim to facilitate the reporting, recovery and disposal of such gear, and includes as supplementary documents:
a framework for conducting a risk assessment for a system on the marking of fishing gear; and
a manual for the marking of fishing gear.
Biofouling: groundwork for a legally binding framework
Following the decision of MEPC 83 to develop a legally binding framework on biofouling management to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species via ships’ hulls, the Sub-Committee agreed on fundamental elements to guide this work.
This includes the recommendation that the framework take the form of a standalone legal instrument, as well as the finalization of the terms of reference for this output. Both will be submitted for approval by MEPC 84.
A correspondence group was established to work on identifying the objectives of the framework, developing a draft structure, outlining the guidelines to support implementation and drafting a work plan for deliverables.
Other outcomes from PPR 13
The Sub-Committee covered a wide range of important issues during the session, with the following key outcomes:
- Amendments to the NOx Code finalized
- Draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI on volatile organic compounds agreed
- Ongoing discussions on black carbon emissions and polar fuels
- Ongoing work on Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems
- Amendments to MARPOL Annex IV on sewage management agreed in principle
- Amendments to MARPOL Annex I on disposing oily bilge water agreed
- Revised Guidelines for systems for handling oily wastes in machinery spaces of ships approved
- Revised guidance for recording operations in the Oil Record Book Part I approved
