Dumping at Sea

Dumping at sea is the deliberate disposal of wastes and other matter into the sea from vessels, aircraft, platforms, or other man-made structures, regulated globally by the London Convention 1972 and its 1996 Protocol. The 1996 Protocol reversed the regulatory logic: instead of listing prohibited wastes, it bans all dumping except the eight categories on the Annex 1 reverse list, including dredged material, sewage sludge, fish waste, inert geological material, vessels, and CO2 streams from capture. Each permitted category still requires a permit and an Annex 2 assessment. Dumping is distinct from operational discharges of garbage and oil, which fall under MARPOL.