Support measures

Increase collection rates of gear, e.g. supported by sea basin wide or even international projects.

Technical support Technical support

Photo: NOAA Photo: NOAA

The material that is supplied by aquaculture farmers and fishermen and especially in large batches from fishing ports is suitable for recycling. This statement currently relates primarily to international collection projects and suppliers of Aquafil, Antex / Ecoalf, bureo and Plastix. In the Baltic Sea Region mainly Plastix is active, although the small amount of gear is an issue.

Relevant type of aquaculture:

Fish Shellfish Seaweed

Relevant sea basin:

Baltic

Relevant stage:

Removal and recycling

Related Barriers:

  • The cost of collection and transport of end-of-life aquaculture gear are yet not organised with the involvement of materials producers. At present that cost is mostly left to the ports– this is particularly relevant in a sector where both ports, and the farmers are often small-scale.

  • Very little or no information exchange and dialogue about innovative solutions of waste management (i.e. common sourcing/funding/monitoring/best practice replication) and new materials with higher recyclability.

Related Good Practice:

M&Q GP5.1

Mapping of ALDFG accumulation areas

The Marelitt Baltic project initiated cooperation with national institutions such as fishery monitoring centres, fisheries and aquaculture water management to obtain the required data. Various information was combined to identify conflict zones with a high amount of lost gear. GIS platforms have been used to ensure the best technological preconditions. Ideally, two maps should be developed: one showcase version and a more detailed version for planning..