Date of Award
1998
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Master of Science in Maritime Affairs
Specialization
General Maritime Administration & Environment Protection
Campus
Malmö, Sweden
Country
Tanzania
First Advisor
Laubstein, Karl.
Abstract
There is an increasing amount of man-made debris that litterthe world's oceans and coastal waters, and associated problems which this brings. This debris consists mostly of persistent materials such as plastics, metal. glass and rubber. This dissertation provides an insight into problems and threats associated with plastic garbage. 'Apart from its persistence in the environment, plastics float for years and are concentrated into specific location by ocean currents causing permanent and irreversible damage to the marine ecosystem. Thus, sources and impacts of plastics into the marine environment are discussed. The increase in population. industrialisation. urbanisation and the rising standards of living has resulted in an ever increasing amount of wastes such as plastics in Tanzania. The study discusses existing control measures concerning the use and disposal of plastics in the marine environment in Tanzania. Legislation applicable to waste management and prevention of water pollutionare identifiedand examined. International pollution control measures of plastic waste into the world's oceans are also identified. The concluding chapters propose necessary changes in Tanzanian legislation concerning plastic garbage pollution in coastal waters. A number of recommendations are made which might assist both in implementing and enforcing environmental laws regarding waste management and pollution prevention in Tanzania