近年來，海洋廢棄物已是世界各國逐漸關注之重要議題，臺灣身為一海島國家，近年來亦積極正視海廢問題，且為因應全球氣候變遷影響，維護健康海洋環境，海洋委員會遵循聯合國永續發展目標(Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs)之第14項目標「永續海洋與保育：保育及永續利用海洋與海洋資源，以確保永續發展」及2050淨零排放政策目標，秉持海洋基本法立法意旨，逐步完備海洋保育法制，進而守護海洋生態資源。
       為鏈結我國海洋廢棄物治理策略接軌國際，本團隊於2024年9月23日至9月26日協助完成辦理為期四日之「海洋廢棄物國際研討會」，以五大議題(海洋廢棄物調查與監測技術、海廢治理策略與政策、海洋環境教育、海洋廢棄物處理及再利用(含案例分享)、微型塑膠調查與監測技術)進行專題演講，邀請來自於9個國家，包含日本、美國、韓國、斯里蘭卡、越南、印尼、墨西哥、模里西斯還有臺灣之國內外貴賓、專家學者及2024青年創新挑戰獲獎者，共計超過170位與會者，主要包含美國國家海洋暨大氣總署/美國環保署/北美環境教育學會、日本政府單位/學術單位/產業單位、印尼學術單位與越南學術單位及2024青年創新挑戰獲獎者共計21位；國內則邀請產業單位及學術單位擔任講者及各環節會議主持人共計15位，同步安排8篇口頭報告(含邀請荒野保護協會發表分享)與10篇海報展示進行論文發表及共計18個展覽攤位進行海洋廢棄物相關成果展示，並獲得9間網路媒體與2間YouTube平台的報導支持，進一步將海洋廢棄物議題帶入主流媒體視野，促進更多民眾瞭解海洋污染的嚴峻性與治理的重要性。
        本次研討會特別強調臺灣、美國及日本在海洋廢棄物治理上的成果與挑戰，臺灣在政策層面修訂「海洋污染防治法」，將海洋廢棄物列入污染範疇，並透過冷壓法與熱熔法等技術推動塑膠廢棄物的資源化。此外，臺灣透過與美國國家海洋暨大氣總署的合作，參與「海洋廢棄物監測與評估計畫」(Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project, MDMAP)，並以無人機與人工智慧技術輔助廢棄物分類和數據收集，有效提升監測效率。透過研討會議進一步瞭解國際技術發展趨勢，並藉由AI影像辨識、遠端感測與機器學習等技術的應用展示，提供政策制定的數據基礎，強化塑膠污染源頭減量及資源循環的可能性，為全球海洋廢棄物治理提供具體參考。
        在行政配合事項中，團隊已完成日本、美國、南韓及菲律賓之海廢治理政策蒐集彙整、海廢治理專責機關及國際海廢相關研討會與研習營(班)資訊之彙整，透過SWOT分析，檢視各國在政策推動與資源利用上的優點、劣勢、機會和威脅，並提出具體建議。日本的跨國合作數據共享模式、南韓的海洋即時監測系統等，皆為臺灣在海洋廢棄物治理方面提供重要參考。透過經驗交流，臺灣得以探索有效政策並強化未來國際合作機會，完善自身的海洋廢棄物治理策略，致力於推動永續海洋環境的全球目標。
        關於補助非政府組織(Non-Governmental Organization, NGO)團體/個人出國參與海洋廢棄物相關研討會/交流會議，已於於11月22日至11月30日到韓國釜山參與「全球塑膠公約第五次會議」(大會日期為：11月25日至12月1日)，汲取國際經驗與拓展國際交流管道，藉以延續國際合作機會，以擴展臺灣參與海洋廢棄物國際事務之深度與廣度，然而「全球塑膠公約第五次會議」未能就全球塑膠條約達成共識，但修訂版的草案文本和2025年進一步討論的計畫為未來的進展奠定基礎。對於海洋保育署而言，此次會議除瞭解各國對塑膠污染及海洋廢棄物的態度外，也瞭解東協國家對於非法的廢棄物交易及海廢污染的各個國家及智庫之間的合作。
       本次「海洋廢棄物國際研討會」主要探討各國家在海洋廢棄物管理、監測技術及治理策略方面成果，充分展現臺灣、美國、日本及多個亞洲國家在應對海洋廢棄物及微型塑膠污染上的努力，成功促進國際間的經驗交流與技術共享，進一步強化合作契機。透過辦理海洋廢棄物國際研討會及蒐集各國海洋廢棄物資料，期盼進一步深化跨國合作與跨領域協作，推動更全面的海洋廢棄物治理。

Abstract
In recent years, marine debris has become a critical global issue. As an island nation, Taiwan has actively addressed this challenge, aiming to maintain a healthy marine environment and mitigate the impacts of global climate change. Following the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, “Life Below Water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development,” and the 2050 Net-Zero Emissions Policy, the Ocean Affairs Council of Taiwan has worked diligently to enhance marine conservation laws under the principles of the Basic Law of the Sea, striving to safeguard marine ecosystems.
To align Taiwan's marine debris management strategies with international standards, the team successfully hosted the four-day "International Conference on Marine Debris" from September 23 to 26, 2024. The symposium featured five key topics: marine debris monitoring and survey technology, governance strategies and policies, environmental education, marine debris treatment and reuse (including case studies), and microplastic monitoring techniques. Over 170 participants from nine countries, including Japan, the United States, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia, Mexico, Mauritius, and Taiwan, attended the symposium. Notable attendees included representatives from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), as well as academic and industrial delegates from Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Taiwan.
The symposium featured 8 oral presentations, including one by the Wilderness Conservation Society, 10 poster presentations, and 18 exhibition booths showcasing marine debris management achievements. This event also garnered significant media attention, with coverage from 9 online outlets and 2 YouTube channels, elevating marine debris issues into the public spotlight and fostering awareness about the urgency and importance of marine pollution mitigation.
A significant focus of the symposium was on the achievements and challenges faced by Taiwan, the U.S., and Japan in marine debris governance. Taiwan has amended the Marine Pollution Control Act to classify marine debris as a type of pollution and has advanced plastic waste recycling through techniques like cold compression and thermal fusion. By collaborating with NOAA on the Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project (MDMAP) and employing AI and drone technologies, Taiwan has significantly improved waste categorization and data collection efficiency. Insights from the symposium provided a foundation for applying advanced technologies such as AI-based image recognition, remote sensing, and machine learning to enhance global marine debris governance efforts.
Administrative support activities included compiling policy analyses from Japan, the U.S., South Korea, and the Philippines, along with SWOT analyses to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of each country’s marine debris strategies. Japan’s cross-border data-sharing model and South Korea’s real-time marine monitoring system offered valuable references for Taiwan's marine debris governance framework. These efforts have strengthened Taiwan’s international collaboration and identified opportunities to refine its own strategies for a sustainable marine environment.
The "International Conference on Marine Debris" underscored the efforts of Taiwan, the U.S., Japan, and other Asian nations in addressing marine debris and microplastic pollution. The event facilitated valuable exchanges of experience and technological insights, bolstering opportunities for international cooperation. By hosting this symposium and consolidating global marine debris data, Taiwan aims to deepen cross-national collaboration and interdisciplinary efforts to advance comprehensive marine debris management strategies.