The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published research, conducted by Resource Futures, into the waste management of end-of-life recreational vessels.

End-of-life recreational vessels, if abandoned, can lead to harmful materials such as hazardous chemicals, litter and microplastics spreading in the marine environment. Resource Futures were contracted by Defra to establish the volume, location, types of materials in the waste stream, and the challenges and barriers to legal disposal options in the UK and across the OSPAR Maritime Area, as well as potential policy options to address vessel abandonment.

The DEFRA published article can be viewed here. 

The work was commissioned by Defra to progress the UK’s commitment to lead action B.2.1 of the new OSPAR Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter. This action focuses on tackling marine litter by managing end-of-life recreational boats.