The problem of marine plastics is one of the issues being discussed at conference hosted by the Dublin Bay Biosphere Partnership.
The four day EuroMab conference in Dublin Castle includes representatives of 302 UNESCO Biosphere in 36 European countries and examines ways to encourage sustainable development.
Most of Dublin Bay received a biosphere designation in 2015, which originally covered just North Bull Island.
A biopshere is an area designated to encourage a balanced relationship between people and nature.
The Dublin Bay Partnerhip includes representatives of the local authorities, Dublin Port and organisations like Fáilte Ireland.
There is a core protected area, which in Dublin includes the Tolka and Baldoyle Estuaries, Booterstown Marsh, Howth Head, North Bull Island, Dalkey Island and Ireland's Eye, and is surrounded by a "buffer zone" and then a "transition zone" which includes residential facilities and economic development.
"Biospheres around the world develop and test best practice in balancing the needs of people with the needs of nature. At EuroMAB 2019 in Dublin we have an opportunity to share that best practice throughout the world network" said Shane Casey, Biosphere Coordinator with Dublin City Council.
