Fishing for Litter: From the implementation of practical actions locally, to its spin-offs and the adoption of a new legally adopted waste type at continental scale, a success story

Abstract

The Fishing for Litter initiative was developed by KIMO in 2002 from a prototype project that ran in the Netherlands in 2000–1. The scheme was subsequently rolled out to other European countries and has established itself as the leading scheme for fishers to remove marine litter from the sea. The goals of the project have gained support from key stakeholders – the fishing industry, port authorities, local and national authorities. Apart from marine litter removal, the scheme provides valuable means of education and awareness-raising within the fishing industry. Additionally, it gives fishers a sense of ownership and of making a valuable contribution to the reduction of marine litter. Fishing for Litter projects are implemented by an array of organisations, from national governments to small not-for profit organisations. The scheme has developed from a small-scale grass-roots initiative to an umbrella scheme. It has played a major role in the inclusion of marine litter as a new waste category - passively fished waste (i.e. ‘waste collected in nets during fishing operations’) - under the recently adopted EU Port Reception Facilities Directive. Thus, the continued implementation and expansion of the scheme in European Coastal Member States is strongly encouraged. It has a number of spin-offs, including frameworks for the management of different types of fisheries related waste. Where an infrastructure for Fishing for Litter waste is already in place, it allows other environmental objectives to be more easily addressed. Examples are the collection of end-of-life fishing gear, net cuttings and dolly rope. Because of all its positive effects, a broad international implementation is recommended.