The Maldivian government has decided to work with Parley for the Oceans to protect the Maldivian ocean from plastic.

The decision was announced at the at the agreement signing with Parley on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih repeated his statement on ending the use of single-use plastic in the Maldives by 2023. The Maldivian President said that one of the reasons for the decision is to create an ocean free of plastic.

Highlighting on the adverse effects of marine plastic pollution, President Ibrahim Solih noted that Maldives’ traditions, way of life, and even language have been heavily influenced by the sea. He stressed that protecting this precious resource is linked to the very survival of the Maldives.

“Ocean pollution not only threatens to compromise the two major industries that form the bedrock of the Maldives’ economy, tourism and fisheries but threatens to decimate the coral reefs that form our very islands. To us, this is an existential crisis,” President Solih said.

Calling upon businesses to change their practices, President Mohamed Solih urged them to avoid plastic packaging and embrace the use of environmentally-responsible materials. He called on the international community, especially businesses enterprises, to do their due diligence in regulating their businesses to reduce their plastic products output.

Speaking further about the partnership with Parley for the Oceans, President Mohamed Solih noted that it was one organisation which truly understands how deeply ocean health is entwined with human security. He further applauded Parley’s local chapter, Parley Maldives, and its efforts to raise awareness on the fragility of the ocean.

Through the partnership with Parley, the Maldives will support the implementation of the Parley AIR Strategy: Avoid plastic where possible by education and communication and offering alternative solutions to single-use plastic; Intercept plastic waste and channel it to reuse, reducing the production of virgin plastic; and Redesign and create alternative and new solutions with new material technologies and new product design.