Support measures

Economic incentives should be introduced for offshore workers (fishermen, wind farmers, etc.) to collect and sort waste (on board, offshore).

Financial support Financial support

Photo: Fishing for Litter Photo: Fishing for Litter

Relevant type of aquaculture:

Fish Shellfish Seaweed

Relevant sea basin:

North

Relevant stage:

Removal and recycling

Related Barriers:

  • Economic issues: costs and manpower to spend time at sea.

  • Fishermen may be asked to recover the nets but it only happens on a voluntary basis (they do that when they are rewarded and they collect ghost gear and equipment that is valuable).

  • The collection and recovery of lost gear is difficult due to environmental conditions; the ocean is very vast and the waves and wind spread the litter fast so it is economically challenging to locate lost items and then send a vessel to collect them.

  • Even though the loss of gear in good shape is a significant financial loss, which farmers try to avoid, retrieving accidently lost gear (e.g. by passing vessels, storms), whilst required by the EU Fisheries Control Regulation, may be perceived as too time-consuming, complicated and very costly in practice.

Related Good Practice:

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