Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar

India has a rich marine history. Human society has been continuously benefiting from the natural wealth of the sea and the ocean. However, in the recent times, the plastic litter mostly from the land based activities, tourism and fishing reach the coast and ocean through rivers and different waterways. It’s an issue of major concern worldwide, with several studies showing their harmful impact on marine biodiversity, ecosystems, fisheries, human health, and the economy. Usually, wastes from land-based sources make up the significant share of marine litter.

As a signatory of the United Nation’s "Coastal Clean Seas" campaign, India has been adopting many activities to prevent pollution from both land-based and offshore activities, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 14 and its target 14.1, which seeks, by 2025, to "prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution".