BLUENET

Context

Marine litter is one of the major environmental challenges at the global scale. According to expert estimates, between 4.6 and 12.7 million tonnes of waste are discharged into seas and oceans every year, with direct impacts on marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and marine-related economic activities.

A significant share of this litter originates from marine-based sources, particularly fisheries and aquaculture, through abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), such as nets and ropes. These wastes not only contribute to pollution but are also highly harmful, as they promote phenomena such as ghost fishing and habitat degradation.

In this context, BLUENET emerges as an initiative aimed at significantly reducing marine litter generated by the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in the SE of the Bay of Biscay, promoting a preventive, participatory approach based on the principles of the circular economy. The project addresses the problem across the entire value chain, combining awareness-raising, prevention, recovery and recycling of materials.

Objectives

To reduce marine litter of fisheries and aquaculture origin in the SE of the Bay of Biscay by 20–40% through the prevention, recovery and recycling of ALDFG, fostering circular and sustainable models in both sectors.

Specific objectives

• To investigate the quantity and harmfulness of marine litter generated by ALDFG from fisheries and aquaculture.
  • To promote sector proactivity in addressing marine litter through ocean literacy actions.
  • To prevent intentional and unintentional discharges of nets and ropes into the sea.
  • To facilitate the recovery of nets and ropes by fishers and aquaculture operators.
  • To establish a self-sufficient regional recycling programme for ALDFG.
  • To develop and promote alternative and sustainable designs for fishing and aquaculture gear.
  • To assess the suitability of incorporating recycled materials into nets and ropes, both at laboratory scale and under real marine conditions.
  • To estimate the amount of marine litter generated by offshore fisheries and aquaculture.
  • To foster networking with other projects and contribute knowledge to the implementation of public policies.
  • To increase the replicability and transferability of results through guidelines to prevent, reduce and recycle waste.
  • To disseminate project results among the general public, key stakeholders, the scientific community and end users.

Expected results and impact

BLUENET will enable the implementation of a local and self-sufficient system for the recovery and recycling of fishing and aquaculture nets and ropes, under the slogan “Locally wasted, locally recovered”.

The project will contribute to the effective reduction of marine litter, while at the same time boosting the local circular economy through the recycling of plastic materials such as polyethylene, polyamide and polypropylene, reincorporating them as raw materials for the manufacture of new fishing and aquaculture gear.

In addition, a positive impact is expected on sector awareness and capacity building, the improvement of sustainable design of fishing and aquaculture gear, and the strengthening of knowledge transfer to other territories and marine management policies.

Video

Participants

AZTI (coordinator), Itsaskorda, Gaiker, NTT (Netxt Technology Tecnotessile).

Funding