Prince Charles has called for states to push for the elimination of plastic waste, alongside other "real solutions" to safeguard marine biodiversity.

Visiting a marine photography exhibition at the Maritime Museum in Vittoriosa while in Malta for Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the Prince of Wales said: "Nature's blue assets are critically important to hundreds of millions of people living on coastlines around the world. Everything we do on land impacts our oceans and reduces benefits that we now take for granted."

Plastic waste, he said, was responsible for untold damage to countless marine species, as were other human activities such as pollution and overfishing.

The Prince, a keen environmentalist, expressed his admiration for the number and diversity of entries in the exhibition, which he said brought to life "the importance, value, fragility and sheer beauty of our oceans".

He also met with youth delegates, where he was presented with a copy of the Commonwealth Youth Forum Declaration, a manifesto drawn up by delegates during forum discussions over the last few days.