Microplastic Pollution in Freshwater – Regulatory Barriers for Better Water Protection

Abstract

Water is an essential, limited natural resource, and yet its sustainability is being increasingly threatened by pollution, particularly from plastics. Rivers and lakes, as critical freshwater sources, are being heavily impacted by plastic waste, including microplastics, referring to tiny plastic particles that pose significant risks to aquatic life and water quality. Since water bodies often cross national borders, pollution in one region can have widespread consequences downstream, emphasising the need for coordinated international management and regulation in such contexts. Despite the rising awareness of plastic pollution, regulatory frameworks addressing microplastics in freshwater systems remain inadequate and fragmented. While global plastic production continues to rise, rivers continue to serve as major streams through which plastic waste gets transported from land-based sources to the oceans, making freshwater pollution a crucial but often overlooked contributor to marine pollution. However, the existing international agreements primarily focus on marine plastic pollution, leaving regulatory gaps in freshwater protection, and an international treaty regulating (micro)plastics remains to be developed. The existing international conventions relating to international waterways also do not regulate the problem of water pollution by (micro)plastics, and European and national regulations continue to be unsatisfactory. This paper explores the challenges of microplastic pollution in freshwater systems, focusing on regulatory barriers that hinder effective water protection. It examines the transboundary nature of water pollution, regulations of international watercourses, the limitations of existing legal frameworks, and the need for stronger international cooperation. By analysing key international conventions and policies, the paper highlights the urgency of establishing comprehensive regulatory measures that address microplastic contamination and safeguard freshwater ecosystems for future generations. The paper presents relevant provisions of international conventions, European legislation, and Croatian legal regulations.