​Members of the CoR approved the recommendations of Tony Buchanan, councillor from East Renfrewshire, on Ocean Governance on 12 July during Plenary Session. Local and regional leaders have thrown their backing behind the European Union's wish to clear the sea of plastic, and they also urge the EU to embrace additional ambitious measures – ranging from tackling waste dumped at sea to protected zones – intended to clean and revive the oceans.

Anthony Buchanan suggests in his opinion that the EU may need to offer incentives to other countries if it is to address the over-arching problems of fragmented responsibility in many areas and a lack of responsibility – the "tragedy of the commons" – in other areas of the oceans.

"Ocean Governance may seem a matter that is far from the immediate interest of most LRAs even costal ones. However issues that happen on the other side of the oceans can have impact (environmental, economic and social) in our shores, and vice versa. Furthermore, LRAs do often have legal and financial powers that have a bearing on the good health of our seas such as pollution prevention. Therefore, this opinion aims to scope the crucial and positive contribution that our authorities can make to the well-being and prosperity of our seas"- said Cllr Tony Buchanan after adoption of his opinion.

While the opinion highlights the impact of plastic waste – from bottles to micro-plastics, tiny beads of plastics used in many everyday consumer products – it throws a spotlight on a range of commonly ignored waste products dumped at say, calling for the EU to adopt a "joint plan for the eventual removal of substances at sea such as munitions, chemicals and nuclear materials".