Knowledge Measures

Improve the design of monitoring programmes to better assess litter coming from aquaculture, e.g. via citizen science or stronger cooperation between Member States. Campaigns might aim to improve aquaculture farmer’s understanding of the impacts of littering with the objective of reducing litter rates, aim to reduce the amount of ALDFG, focus on broader impacts of marine plastics, with the aim of encouraging a) aquaculture farmers to take up available SUP alternatives, or start using mulit-use items instead; b) designers to increase research on alternatives and c) producers to financially support these efforts. Organise national round tables on marine litter to share solutions and good practices among different sectors Offer targeted training workshops delivering formal technical training on particular topics or skills, which will be open to a wider technical audience in the aquaculture sector. Technical experts and institutions (including relevant staff at HELCOM and national aquaculture organisations) could identify training and capacity building needs within relevant institutions Baltic Sea countries. Based on this needs assessment, a flexible, needs-based training programme could be developed. Create manuals to be followed by the staff and offer a certification of good practices. Use nudging policies (behavioural response policies) like special offers to push farmers to more sustainable products or products which are already smaller, more sustainable and all other products are less available. Timely and efficient communication on new offshore installations to all seafarers to avoid their destruction by ships sailing in restricted aquaculture zones. For new installations, the coastguards can also use an ATON (Aid to Navigation, i.e. a navigation message or warning) whereby an emergency signal is continuously sent to all ships in the vicinity to notify them of an aquaculture farm in place. Consumption levies are considered to be an economic instrument implemented at the Member State level that increases the cost of SUP items used in the aquaculture sector and placed on the market, and incentivise non-use, or substitution by alternatives and multi-use items. To define the consumption levies, an option analysis could be modelled to determine the exact nature of the instruments. Charges and levies are ony likely to be effective for some items (like passive fishing gear, boxes, cords), and not others, which should be researched in more detail.