Plastic waste from Asia inundates Sea of Japan coastline

FILE PHOTO: A large sea bream object, made from colourful debris found drifting at sea, such as plastic tanks, toys and wires, and produced by Japanese art group Yodogawa Tecnique, is displayed at the Setouchi Triennale art event at the port of Uno, Okayama prefecture in western Japan on May 19, 2013. Japan is one of the world’s largest generators of plastic waste and is being urged to take steps to keep oceans clean. - AFP/JIJI PRESS

TOKYO: Marine waste that has drifted over from other Asian countries is causing problems in prefectures along the Sea of Japan. Intergovernmental negotiations held in Switzerland through Aug 15 sought to establish the world’s first treaty on preventing pollution but ultimately failed to reach an agreement, prompting concerns over delays in taking action against serious plastic pollution.

At the same time, Japan itself is one of the world’s largest generators of plastic waste and is being urged to take steps to keep oceans clean.