2022 R30 – Prohibit Use of Expanded Polystyrene in the Marine Environment
- Year: 2022
- AVICC Number: R30
- UBCM Number: EB53
- qathet RD
Whereas expanded polystyrene (EPS), commonly known as Styrofoam™, in the marine environment can cause significant harm to marine life, seafood resources and ecosystems;
And whereas EPS is difficult to impossible to clean up from shorelines after it breaks down and has a high likelihood of entering the marine environment from damaged marine infrastructure, whether encased or not:
Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the provincial and federal governments to prohibit the use of expanded polystyrene (EPS) in the marine environment.
- Year: 2022
- AVICC Number: R30
- Sponsor: qathet RD
- Resolution Type: Provincial
- Category: Environment
- AVICC Decision: Endorsed
- AVICC Response link
- UBCM Number: EB53
- UBCM Decision: Endorsed
- Provincial Response:Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy Management of the expanded polystyrene EPS issue is multi-jurisdictional. At the federal level, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans DFO licenses and regulates many industries, Transport Canada protects navigable waters, and Environment and Climate Change Canada is taking action on plastic waste. The Province, under the Ministry of Forests FOR, is responsible for approval of tenures and docks. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy ENV introduced the Clean Coast Clean Waters Initiative CCCW in 2020 and has since been supporting marine debris clean-ups. EPS comprised a large portion of materials collected from CCCW-funded shoreline clean-ups and was in the top five of recyclable materials collected by weight which excludes the small pieces of foam collected and landfilled. The Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship LWRS is responsible for the Coastal Marine Strategy CMS, which is being co-developed with coastal Indigenous Nations. The issue of marine debris has been raised as a shared priority and LWRS staff will work with governments and stakeholders to identify new actions and existing programsinitiatives that should continue. There is movement away from EPS marine floats. For example, under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Clean Technology Adaptation Program, LWRS partnered with the BC Shellfish Growers Association to set up a foam billet replacement project. DFO is also introducing new conditions for shellfish aquaculture licenses; starting April 1, 2023, to require exposed or degraded foam to be replaced. In addition, shshlh Nation Best Management Practices for Marine Docks outlines that EPS is prohibited for new construction and repairs on marine docks. An opportunity to review the Coastal Marine Strategy Intentions Paper and provide feedback is available. To submit feedback either by questionnaire or by written submission, visit: https:engage.gov.bc.cacoastalmarinestrategy shshlh Nation Best Management Practices for Marine Docks URL: https:shishalh.comwp-contentuploads201810BMPsmarinedocksUpdateFinal27Ju…
- UBCM Response link
The AVICC acknowledges that we are grateful to live, work, and play on the traditional territories of theCoast Salish, Nuu-Chah-Nulth and Kwak-Waka’wakw Peoples