B.4.2 Stimulate circular design in waste management of fishing and aquaculture gear
Action Theme: Theme B: Actions to reduce sea-based sources of marine litter
Action number: B.4.2
Action Title: Stimulate circular design and developments in waste management of fishing and aquaculture gear
Lead Party(ies): Netherlands and the United Kingdom with support from Denmark
Links to other actions: RAP 1 Action 35 To Identify the options to address key waste items from the fishing industry and aquaculture, which could contribute to marine litter, including deposit schemes, voluntary agreements and extended producer responsibility.
What is the issue?
Fishing and aquaculture activities are important sources of marine litter. As a result of work undertaken to deliver RAP 1, OSPAR concluded that the recyclability of fishing gear could be improved at the design stage by reducing the number of materials in gear, making materials easier to identify, ensuring higher purity of materials and making gear easier to dismantle. Design to reduce environmental impact should include considerations to make gear less prone to wear and tear and less prone to getting lost, as well as reducing environmental impact in the event that gear is lost at sea
What has OSPAR done?
This action will draw on outputs of the OceanWise project, funded by INTERREG Atlantic Area by France, Portugal, Ireland, Spain and the UK. The project aims to look at how to prevent EPS and EXS entering the marine environment and how it can be kept within the system (circular economy).
This OSPAR action will recommend the adoption of national and international policies and best practices for the industry which highlight the relevance of taking into account the risk to the marine environment of certain plastics in the context of their specific applications. The recommendations will contribute to improving the transition to circular economy.
