Protecting the oceans from dumping of hazardous wastes at sea depends on full implementation of the London Protocol (LP), including development of national systems for assessing, permitting, monitoring and enforcement of disposal at sea activities.
Officials from Peru have gained insight into how to fully implement the treaty during an in-person IMO national workshop held in Lima, Peru (31 May-1 June), hosted by the Peruvian Maritime Authority.
The London Protocol entered into force in 2006. It prohibits all dumping at sea, other than when explicitly permitted under the terms of the treaty.
Peru ratified the LP in 2018. Through a series of presentations, group discussions and case studies during the workshop, more than 40 senior officials from maritime and environmental authorities, the ports sector and marine institutes were sensitized in all matters (legal, technical, administrative) to support implementation of the convention.
Participants were provided with an introduction to the LP, in the context of a legal framework for marine pollution management. Participants also discussed barriers to implementation of the treaty, and identified next steps for future coordination and cooperation to ensure effective implementation.
The workshop was delivered through IMO's Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP). It comes as part of IMO's continuous efforts to support UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 (life below water), with a view to creating awareness and dialogue around specific ocean governance issues.
