Waste Free Oceans launches new website, continuing the battle against marine litter
To clean up our oceans, rivers and lakes, we need to manage our plastic and other waste better
The organization Waste Free Oceans (WFO) has unveiled its new website at www.wastefreeoceans.org. Under the slogan “Cleaning up our oceans”, the NGO has honed its identity and captured the essence of what it has stood for since its foundation in 2011. The challenge of protecting our seas is at the core of WFO’s efforts. This is reflected in the structure of the new website, which is now more user-friendly and interactive. WFO also put a great deal of thought into the site’s visual impact: large and modern images are intended to give it the feel of a magazine that emphasizes content, is responsive and is fun for users.
According to WFO, "Marine litter is caused by poor waste management in ports and marinas and plastic debris in the ocean is now ubiquitous. Its durability, a common feature of most plastics, combined with the inability to manage end-of-life plastic effectively has resulted in marine plastics and microplastics intruding our precious waters around the world. Plastic waste is a trans-boundary social and environmental problem. Luckily, the scale and significance of the issue and its urgent call for innovative approaches is being increasingly heard.
"WFO brings together the local community to help fight marine litter and improve recycling rates in the area with the aim of inspiring other cities and regions to also take similar action. We reiterate that measures need to be taken in order to optimize port reception facilities when it comes to disposing of marine litter collected at sea. At the moment, landing waste is not free of charge in EU ports – an obstacle for Fishing for Litter by fishermen."
“The new website is embedded in WFO’s wider strategy and represents an important component in our global communication plan,” states Alexandre Dangis, WFO Co-Founder. “It takes us away from a web presence centred on information and moves us toward a platform meant to engage citizens ready to drive real impact in cleaning up our oceans.”
A major highlight of the new website is that visitors can directly fund WFO projects they are particularly passionate about and see the total amount of funds raised by others. Social media likewise forms a central facet of the platform. Here, the various channels offer users even more opportunities for interaction. The website can be accessed from any device.
WFO is also pleased to announce that Member States are making use of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), most recently Spain. The EMFF co-funds “fishing for litter” clean-up operations by fishermen. WFO encourages other member states to follow Spain’s lead. In North America, contact WFO Americas.