Legislation Measures

In Spain, include the identification of potential sources of waste and the estimation of non-organic marine litter related to an aquaculture facility in the Environmental Surveillance Plans (PVAs due to the Spanish abbreviation) Establish public official reference values in relation to the potential waste generated by the aquaculture sector, exclusive of each type of aquaculture main activities. This kind of litter-frame would help to build trust among the multiple aquaculture stakeholders involved in the non-organic marine litter management The results of the analysis of the technical characteristics of suitable material for aquaculture gear and life-cycle steps should be incorporated in environmental aquaculture regulation and gear made following these recommendations should be included as a certified good practice. Any breakthrough related to eco or sustainable designs should be integrated in the aquaculture regulation. Share the information related with the main needs and priorities in relation to non-organic litter prevention and reduction in the aquaculture sector with the gear producers, material producers and the policy makers, with the aim to create a set of rules that would apply to the gear design and material selection, to ensure resistance and durability in a regulation framework. In Spain, create a specific Spanish Single Use Plastic regulation and Extended Producer Responsibility scheme regulation for fisheries and aquaculture Involvement of the policy makers environmental authorities in the identification of areas for the development of the aquaculture, to guarantee the harmonious integration of the aquaculture facilities in the coastal zones, minimize land-use conflicts and reduce the potential impacts. Raise taxes on non-sustainable (like plastic) materials but not on alternative materials to create a clear benefit in using the sustainable gear. This solution can only be adopted once there are real alternatives to the non-sustainable materials. Expand the current environmental objectives of the Marine Strategies to include the criteria of monitoring marine litter (related to descriptor 10 - MSFD) in the Compatibility Reports. Add monitoring marine litter as criteria in all the Environmental Surveillance Plans related to any kind of aquaculture activity. Simplify the proposed Environmental Surveillance Plans guidelines for farms smaller than 500 t. Oblige, by law, to tag the aquaculture nets and other big gear like buoys, so that they can be traced. Perform inspections to enforce regulations and deny concession renewals if removal and recycling criteria are not met. Oblige farmers to fill in a logbook, keeping track of the bought items, installed and/or used items, major events happening and any gear loss or damage. Logbooks can help to generate information on the lifecycle of the larger gears like nets, the duration of their use, details on possible repairs, washes or treatments with anti-fouling products, etc. This information can also help to enlarge the lifecycle of the gear. Apply financial fines to the farming companies that do not follow the EPR rules and do not discard properly the gear that has reached the end-of-life. These fines could include direct economic sanctions or disengagement from European funding, for example. Provide financial incentives to the companies that have a higher proportion of gear (e.g. nets) recycling and reusing. This could only be possible if the traceability system (including manufacturer and farmers tagging) works properly. Include controls on marine waste generation in aquaculture farms during audits. Audits must have a waste control protocol including valid indicators to assess the removal and recycling efficiency of the facility.