[Project] ExPLOI – Plastics Expedition in the Indian Ocean

Objectives

The ExPLOI project supported by the IOC aims to provide a comprehensive response to the problem of plastic pollution. In this perspective, ExPLOI is articulated around 3 components:

1. Scientific component : improving knowledge of the impacts of marine pollution by plastic

Collecting data on plastic in the Indian Ocean with the mapping, typology and analysis of ecotoxicity, knowing that 75% of tuna consumed in the European Union comes from the IOC region (it is also the second region in the world in terms of tuna volume exports). The UMR MARBEC is in charge of the scientific management and the coordination of the implementation of this component, which associates 24 partners of the Western Indian Ocean region regarding :

• a regional oceanographic campaign
• a regional observatory of marine plastic waste
• studies on the biodegradability of plastics in the marine environment
• studies on the impact of plastics on the ecosystem and society
• studies on the impact of plastic on coastal aquaculture uses
• anthropological approaches on the human perception of the risk linked to marine plastics
• studies on the social economic cost of plastic pollution

2. Environmental education and plastic pollution awareness

An education and awareness component for young people (scholarships, mobilization of the Indian Ocean eco-school network, artists' residencies), scientific, recreational and cultural stopovers in the main ports of the Western Indian Ocean, a collaboration with the Blue Penny Museum in Port Louis for traveling exhibitions. The strong potential of visibility and passion around the ships will allow to better mobilize political leaders during the stopovers. The UMR MARBEC is in charge of the implementation of the artists' residencies, the dissemination of knowledge, and the link with political leaders.

3. The development of a regional circular economy

Promotion of the circular economy in association with École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts et Métiers and AMVALOR on the valorization of research in the private sector and in action. They will propose innovative business models and technological solutions that have a positive impact on the environment and methods of production. AMVALOR will visit all IOC countries to ensure that their technological offer is appropriate locally for the plastic waste insular management. The project will then move toward starting an incubator in order to disseminate appropriate technology to the private sector as a profitable business.

Partners

• The University of Comoros (Comoros)
• University of Toliara (Madagascar)
• Institute of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (Madagascar)
• National Centre of Environmental Resarch (Madagascar)
• University of Seychelles (Seychelles)
• Public Health Laboratory (Seychelles)
• Public Health Authority (Seychelles)
• Seychelles Fishing Authority (Seychelles)
• Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change (Seychelles)
• Central Health Laboratory, Victoria Hospital (Mauritius)
• Mauritius Oceanographic Institute (Mauritius)
• University of Mauritius (Maurice)
• UMR MARBEC (France)
• UMR SENS (France)
• UMR ENTROPIE (France-Reunion Island)
• UMR LEMAR (France)
• UMR PIMIT (France-Reunion Island)
• UMR Espace-Dev (France-Reunion Island)
• University of Reunion Island (France-Reunion Island)
• Centre technique de recherche et de valorisation des milieux aquatiques (France-Reunion Island)
• CNRS (France)
• IRD (France)
• IFREMER - Sète & Centre Ifremer du Pacifique (France)
• CHU Arnaud-de-Villeneuve (France)

Scientific coordination : Thierry Bouvier, CNRS/IRD – UMR MARBEC

Funding

• French Development Agency (AFD)
• French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM)