ABSTRACT :
Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly recognized as a planetary boundary threat (Persson et al., 2022, p. 1513), severely impacting marine ecosystems, food chains, and human health. Despite extensive evidence on their ecological harm—from cellular damage in plankton to bioaccumulation in top predators (Bucci et al., 2020, p. 5)—Europe’s regulatory framework remains fragmented and largely inadequate. This interdisciplinary review critically analyses the state of the art on marine microplastic pollution from a legal-ecological perspective, with a focus on European Union regulations and their implications for marine biodiversity protection and enforcement mechanisms.
We review scientific findings on microplastic dispersion, degradation, and toxicity in coastal and marine habitats (Kurniawan et al., 2024, p. 3; Bamigboye et al., 2024, p. 261), alongside legal instruments such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, REACH regulation, and the recent EU ban on intentionally added microplastics (Zuccaro et al., 2024, p. 2592). Drawing from jurisprudence across more than 30 jurisdictions (Varvastian, 2023, p. 636), we evaluate the emerging role of courts in filling governance gaps and driving state accountability.
Our findings highlight a mismatch between the complexity of microplastic pollution—particularly its invisible, diffuse, and transboundary nature—and the enforcement capacities of administrative and criminal law. We argue that while legal regimes recognize the environmental harm of plastics, current implementation lacks the ecological sensitivity and interdisciplinary coordination required for effective mitigation. Notably, cruise ship-related pollution and antifouling paint degradation are emerging as critical, yet understudied, legal blind spots (Compa et al., 2023, p. 12; Morelle-Hungría, 2022, p. 5).
We propose a multi-layered governance approach integrating marine ecological evidence with enforceable legal standards. Specific attention is given to the potential role of environmental criminal law and citizen science mechanisms to enhance compliance and monitoring efforts. This work contributes to the dialogue between marine science and environmental law, advocating for stronger regulatory instruments aligned with planetary boundaries and the precautionary principle.
Keywords :
Microplastics, marine pollution, environmental law, EU regulation, ecological risk, criminal liability, blue economy.
References :
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(p. 2592)