Responsibility measures

Mark gear to track it back to the owner. Authorities can better enforce penalties for intentionally dumping aquaculture gear and nets into the sea. It also creates an opportunity to return gear that was accidentally lost to the owner for reuse and increases the visibility of gear.

Farmer/user responsibility Farmer/user responsibility

Relevant type of aquaculture:

Fish Shellfish Seaweed

Relevant sea basin:

Baltic

Relevant stage:

Prevention and reduction

Related Barriers:

  • There is a lack of information concerning incidents at sea. If accidental losses of material and installations are not all reported to the managing authorities, the actual incidents cannot be followed up and investigated, which makes it impossible to come up with a solution for reoccuring problems.

  • Tracking devices are still too expensive or not applicable for elaborated use.

  • There exists no self-commitment system for farmers to remove gear in case of problems, e.g. upcoming storms.

  • Many single items are brought to the platforms and infrastructures offshore, without being pre-installed on shore.

Related Good Practice:

P&R GP10.1

Marking gear

In Denmark, the owners are marking their gear, which is currently working. It should be implemented everywhere. There are some extra problems related with the buoys being traded/removed by tourists, and this increases the difficulty for tracking the litter (sp. Considering that the buoys can be recycled nowadays). (Interview)