Marine litter is one of the most widespread and pervasive pollution challenges confronting the world's oceans, coastal habitats and associated biodiversity leading to the degradation of the marine environment  (UNEP, 2017). A concerted approach to addressing the problem is much needed. The Marine Litter Network (MALNET) was established out of a need to promote regional partnerships through an Inter-ACE Thematic Network funded by the Association of African Universities. Four ACE institutions were commissioned into the MALNET project. These institutions include the  Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal, University of Cape Coast,Ghana,  Institut de Recherches Halieutiques et Océanologiques du Bénin (IRHOB), Ministry of Tertiary Education and Scientific Research, Benin, Centre d’Excellence Africain (CEA) en Eau et Assainissement de l'Institut National de l’Eau, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin, Centre d’Excellence Africain en Valorisation des Déchets en Produits à Haute Valeur Ajoutée (VALOPRO), INP-HB, Côte d'Ivoire, and Centre d'Etudes, de Formation et de Recherche en Gestion des Risques Sociaux (CEFORGRIS), Joseph KI-ZERBO University, Burkina Faso. 
This virtual symposium is one of the key deliverables under the Network aimed at   contributing to on-going awareness activities on the growing challenges associated with marine litter pollution on a regional scale. The opportunity will also be used to discuss key research findings from the network activities. The platform will also be used to discuss other existing research and project activities from participants outside the network to proffer collective policy, research and behavioural change recommendations.
 

Date and Venue for Symposium
The Symposium is scheduled for June 19-20, 2023 online at 10 am – 3 pm Universal Time daily.

Please click here to register for the symposium.

Symposium Objectives
The Symposium seeks to:
•    highlight the menace of marine litter, opportunities and challenges in its management along the West-African sub-region;
•    share scientific information related to marine litter and its impacts on the marine environment
•    learn from other regions good practices on policy, prevention, management, and behavior change strategies to address the menace. 

Activities

Daily engagements will cover/include:

1-    Keynote Presentation (30 minutes each day)
Two expert presentations will be delivered during the symposium. Twenty minutes will be allocated for presentation and 10 minutes for general discussion. The presentation will focus on:

•    The role of networks and partnerships in addressing marine litter issues in Africa
•    Marine litter management in Africa: Issues with focus on successes and failures 

2-    Oral presentations

Call for Abstracts

Abstracts will be categorized under the following thematic areas:

Thematic Area 1: Types of marine litter and quantification
Thematic Area 2: Impacts of litter on marine environment
Thematic Area 3: Recycling and valorization of ocean plastics
Thematic Area 4: Policy dimensions of marine litter management

Presenters are kindly requested to select the thematic area under which their abstracts belong during submission on the registration page.

Abstract submission guidelines and Deadline

•    Abstracts must not exceed 400 words
•    Abstract’s title should be concise and indicative of the content of the abstract
•    Abstracts could be submitted in English or French
•    Abstracts must be submitted in MS-Word
•    Affiliations of all the co-authors of the abstract must be given in detail including their addresses and emails

The presenter should be named in the document. Abstracts not exceeding Twenty will be selected in line with relevance to the thematic areas. The authors of accepted abstracts will be required to prepare a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation based on standardised approved format for the symposium.  Note that accepted abstracts will be published on MALNET website and in the symposium’s book of abstracts. Each participant can present only one oral presentation .  Abstracts should be submitted here on, or before the deadline: 31 May 2023 and notification of selection will be given by 6 June 2023.