Since 1973 the UN has brought in protocols under the London Convention, the MARPOL provisions and the International Laws of the Seas. In 2008 the EU released a directive to guarantee good health of Europe's seas by 2020. Still, German government estimates that each year 20,000 tons of waste is dumped into the North Sea alone. The report states enforcing dumping regulations is not working, and a solution is not likely in the near future.

Despite ocean dumping being illegal in many places, the oceans of the world are filled with plastic that is slow to break down. Tiny pieces of plastic are filling the oceans (18,000 plastic pieces per km²) and eaten by fish and birds. Plastic buildup in the stomachs of animals is killing them and chemicals contained in plastics can end up in the food chain, posing serious health risks.

Suggested strategies to combat ocean dumping include incentives for 500 European fishing boats, recycling programs onboard ships, and use of port fees to finance garbage disposal.