Legislation measures

Incentives: Member States have to establish EPR schemes as soon as possible (much before 2024), and ensure they are set in a proper way, including with eco-modulation fees, taking into account the durability, reparability, re-usability and recyclability, hereby taking a life-cycle approach.

Policy Policy

Relevant type of aquaculture:

Fish Shellfish Seaweed

Relevant sea basin:

Baltic

Relevant stage:

Prevention and reduction

Related Barriers:

  • The externalities of litter in the environment are not internalised into the costs of single use plastic items used in aquaculture facilities. This is one of the reasons why there is limited economic incentive to develop or choose items with a better environmental footprint.

  • Lack of incentives to avoid complex gear products or mixed-plastic formats for better recyclability.

  • Guidelines and specifications for different types of materials and equipment are lacking. A difference should be made between consumables; single use, short use material and durables; long use material.

  • Lack of alternatives: Designers and manufacturers of aquaculture equipment are not sufficiently aware and motivated to seek alternative materials that would make their products more resistant and less polluting.

  • Lacking market incentives are directly linked with poor waste management which is also related to complex gear products or mixed-pastic formats not designed for recyclabilitiy.

Related Good Practice:

P&R GP5.1

Guarantee for removing gear

In Denmark, there are some smart farms, in which the farmer subscribes a guarantee for removing the gear if there is any problem (e.g. in case of a storm). The farmer has to pay a fee if the installation was not removed in time. The Environmental Protection Act (EPA) (Consolidated Act no. 879, 26 June 2010), foresees rules and decisions concerning the impact on waters sanctioned by penalties (section 110, EPA).