APEC is an important multilateral forum facilitating collaboration among economies in the Asia Pacific region, and marine debris is a high priority topic of discussion for the Oceans and Fisheries Working Group and other relevant APEC working groups. 

The Marine Debris Program is leading the coordination of APEC’s Marine Debris Roadmap Implementation Plan, and the program presented updates on this plan at the meeting. The Implementation Plan is guiding APEC and regional economies’ work on understanding and addressing marine debris through promoting policy development, capacity building, research and innovation, and financing and private sector engagement.