The Ocean Is Not a Dumping Ground

The document reviews the history of ocean dumping regulations, focusing on the London Convention and Protocol, and examines the challenges of enforcing these rules against radioactive waste and emerging climate mitigation technologies.

• The 1972 London Convention and its 1996 Protocol establish the primary global framework for regulating ocean dumping. The 1996 Protocol is more restrictive, prohibiting all dumping except for a specific list of materials that must undergo a rigorous assessment and permitting process.
• Dredged material constitutes the vast majority of licensed ocean dumping, accounting for 80-90% of all such materials. On average, 500 million tonnes of dredged material are dumped annually within the waters of London Convention and Protocol Contracting Parties.
• The international community has shifted toward a precautionary approach, particularly regarding radioactive waste. While the 1972 Convention initially allowed low-level radioactive waste, a 1993 amendment banned all nuclear waste dumping. However, Japan plans to release 1.25 million tonnes of contaminated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi plant into the Pacific Ocean, a move opposed by China, Chile, and the Republic of Korea.
• The London Protocol has been adapted to regulate climate change mitigation technologies. In 2006, it was amended to allow carbon capture and storage (CCS) under the seabed if deemed safe. In 2013, an amendment was adopted to permit marine geoengineering activities, such as ocean fertilization, for research purposes only.
• Regional treaties complement global efforts, including MARPOL (which reduces ship-based pollution), the OSPAR Convention for the North-East Atlantic, and the Barcelona Convention for the Mediterranean Sea.
• Global ocean dumping governance remains fragmented and 'piecemeal' due to uneven adherence, lack of ratification by some countries, and persistent challenges in reporting, compliance, and enforcement.

APA

Mead,, L. (2021). The Ocean Is Not a Dumping Ground. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/articles/regulating-ocean-dumping

Chicago

Mead,, Leila. The Ocean Is Not a Dumping Ground. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2021. https://www.iisd.org/articles/regulating-ocean-dumping.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mead, |first1=Leila |title=The Ocean Is Not a Dumping Ground |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=7 December 2021 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/regulating-ocean-dumping |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mead2021ocean, author = {Mead,, Leila}, title = {{The Ocean Is Not a Dumping Ground}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2021}, month = dec, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/regulating-ocean-dumping}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }