Belgium commits to the preparation of a national action plan to combat marine litter. The scope of the national action plan will be broad, aiming to prevent macro, as well as micro litter, and to reduce land-based, as well as sea-based sources. Examples of types of litter and sources that will be addressed in the action plan are litter from the fisheries sector, single use plastic materials and primary microplastics. The action plan will also contain several cleaning activities such as the removal of fishing nets from ship wrecks and beach cleanups. Finally, there will be an important focus on collaboration on national level between different governmental bodies (local, regional and federal governments), and on international collaboration.

The national action plan will also contain an ambitious awareness raising component:

• Introduction of marine litter education in the educational program for professional fishermen;
• Awareness activities addressed to the general public are promoted, such as the organization of beach clean-up days, the preparation and distribution of promotional materials (video’s, leaflets, bookmarkers) in the coastal municipalities and during various promotional national events.
• Promotion and encouragement of educational programs from the local government and NGOs, such as marine litter lesson days/weeks for school children
• Broad public information campaign in an accessible way on the results of Belgian and international scientific research on marine litter and the impact on food chain safety, and onthe adoption of national polices in order to enhance awareness and public participation and stimulate a behavioral change.