NOVAMONT, an Italian innovative material production company, developed a new
biomaterial for producing aquaculture mussels’ nets. Together with Rom Plastics S.r.l., University of Siena and a
mussel farm based in La Spezia managed by Cooperativa Mitilicoltori Spezzini, they are testing the new biomaterial in
the lab and on the field. Nets are being tested in different ecosystems and sediments, in the lab and in the natural
environment, to check their degradable time and resistance. The first trials gave positive feedback from farmers
involved in the project. Once used, the nets can be placed in special containers for compost, reducing the price for
disposal, cleaning and recycling process. The material is still under refining process, since it proved to be less
resistant and durable than plastic nets, and more expensive to be purchased. In the project BIOGEARS, led by AZTI and in
collaboration with the Basque rope producer company Itsaskorda, long-line ropes made of biodegradable and compostable
material for mussel production are being developed. They are also developing the BLUENET project, in which the
feasibility of recycled discarded fishing nets and aquaculture long-lines ropes are being tested to manufacture ropes
for long-line mussel production.
https://www.novamont.com/
https://www.unisi.it/
https://www.azti.es/en/new-emff-project-biogears-launched-to-develop-biobased-ropes-for-aquaculture/
https://www.azti.es/
https://www.azti.es/proyectos/bluenet/
https://www.itsaskorda.es/
Knowledge measures
Materials and design
Photo: Pla
