3R FISH

Fishing nets recovery and recycling in Spain

3R FISH: Fishing nets recovery and recycling in Spain• Background

– Galician maritime sector. Fishing fleet and ports.– CETMAR

• Precedents to 3R FISH• 3R FISH: the project

– General information & objectives– Activities– Fishing nets Pilot Experience: Collection and

recycling– Main findings and future challenges

Background

The Galician maritime sector• Great social and economic importance. Around 10% of the

regional economy.• Fishing fleet

– Almost 5.000 registered fishing vessels, operating mostly in local and regional fishing grounds.

– Besides “minor arts”, the main techniques are trawling, long lines and purse seine.

• Ports– Two tier system

• Nationally relevant ports: 5 autonomous port authorities depending from the central government.

• Other ports: 122 smaller ports organized in a network managed by a regional public body.

CETMAR• Technological centre of the sea.• Public non-profit foundation,

created and backed by the Galician regional government (fisheries and R+D departments) with the support of the Spanish government.

• Set up in 2001, located in Vigo.• Board of trustees: Regional and

national government, universities, research organisms and fishing products industry.

GALICIA

CETMAR

• Main objective: the promotion of cooperation between the Galician maritime sector, related public institutions and research centres.

• It encourages the involvement of the maritime sector in R&D actions and helps to improve the efficiency and sustainability of all activities related to the marine environment and its resources.

• Our activities focus on the development and implementation of projects, report drafting and acting as an on demand service provider for the maritime industry.

Precedents to 3R FISH

Precedents to 3R FISHDuring 2007 – 08 CETMAR undertook a first approach in the field of solid waste associated to fishing and port activities in Galicia with the OMAR waste observatory.

This was done through the collaboration with port authorities and fishermen associations, and had as its objective to research the environmental situation in Galician ports regarding solid waste.

Results: General diagnostic of the waste situation in Galician fishing ports, suggestions for the implementation of an integrated waste management system, awareness raising campaigns, workshop on fishing nets management.

Precedents to 3R FISHThree kinds of wastes were identified to be particularly problematic for port authorities for different reasons:

•Discarded fishing nets and gear.•EPS fish boxes.•Used batteries from fishing lights.

In order to address the better management of these three wastes, the 3R FISH project was

devised.

3R FISH: The project

3R FISH• Integrated management model for the recovery

and recycling of solid wastes from fishing and port activities

• Funded by the LIFE program, through its Environmental Policy & Governance branch

• Budget: 1.447.989’5 € (41’13% of EU funding)• It took place in Galician &

Portuguese fishing ports fromJanuary 2009 until December 2011.

Portugal

Galicia

3R FISH: Objective

The main objective of the 3R FISH project was the improvement of water and seabed quality through the adequate management of waste

generated by the fishing sector in ports, as well as the promotion of the sustainable

development of fishing and port activities through the reduction of their environmental

impact.

3R FISH: ObjectiveKey points of the project:

• Establishing an innovative and sustainable (both technically and economically) system for the management of the three target wastes, based on their valorization.

• Implementing good environmental practices for waste management both at sea and at the ports.

• Promoting the cooperation of all the involved agents (port authorities, fishermen, waste management companies…).

3R FISH: ObjectiveThe project’s activities are in line with the most

recent European policies and directives:

• Common Fisheries Policy.– It prepares the maritime sector for new

environmental requirements.– It allows fishermen to get ready for possible future

functions as “Guardians of the Sea”.

• Marine Strategy Framework Directive.– Good Environmental Status of EU coastal waters by

2020.– Descriptor #10: Marine litter.

3R FISH: Objective

This philosophy can be summarized in two mottoes:

At sea, nothing thrown overboard

At land, zero waste

3R FISH: Consortium• Project coordinator: CETMAR• Project partners:

• Portos de Galicia• Marín Port Authority• University of A Coruña• LEITAT Technological Centre• PLASTIMAR

• External collaborators:• Port authorities (Vigo, A Coruña, Peniche & Aveiro).• Waste management companies.• Fishermen associations.

3R FISH: Activities• Diagnostic• Pilot Experiences for the management of the 3

target wastes• Fishing nets & gear• EPS fish boxes• Used batteries

• Technical validation of the recycling process• Strategic analysis for the potential extension of

the waste management system.

3R FISH: Fishing nets

3R FISH: Fishing netsPRIOR CONSIDERATIONS

• Fishing nets are the main waste being generated in Galician ports , to the tune of hundreds of tons per year.

• Modern fishing gear is made with plastics that won’t decompose if lost or dumped in the marine environment or in landfills. These plastics can be recycled.

• Two main kinds of plastics used in fishing nets, polyamides (nylon) and polyolefins (Polyethylene and polypropylene). The materials with which nets are made will depend on the techniques employed by the fishermen.

3R FISH: Fishing netsFISHING NETS MANAGEMENT IN GALICIAN PORTS

• Before 2007: Landfill, with no valorization whatsoever

• 2007-2009: Small scale valorization. Only nylon nets in good condition were re-used and traded, the rest was still landfilled. Individual efforts from each Port Authority, with no coordinated actions between them.

• In 2009, and through the 3R FISH project a coordinated pilot action for fishing nets management and valorization was established.

Participating ports

Portugal

Galicia

A Coruña

Ribeira

Marín

Vigo

3R FISH: Fishing netsCOLLECTION AND PRE-PROCESSING

3R FISH: Fishing netsFISHING NETS COLLECTION IN GALICIAN PORTS

• The 3R FISH pilot experience began in July 2009.• Until September 2011 922 tons (747 of them

from ports) of fishing nets were collected.– 2009 (Jul-Dec): 185 tons.– 2010: 471 tons.– 2011 (Jan-Sep): 276 tons.

• Collection took place not only in the ports but also in private companies that were associated to the ports and fishing activity.

• 257 tons of other fishing gear were also collected between 2009 and 2011.

3R FISH: Fishing netsFISHING NETS RECYCLING

• Collected fishing nets were afterwards sent for recycling, initially to a company in Tarazona (Zaragoza), which received them directly from the ports.

• Since 2010, collected fishing nets started to be processed in Galicia and then sent for recycling.

• PE and PP were recycled domestically, PA was recycled in Asia.

• The recycling process at cooperating industries was monitored and supported by the consortium.

3R FISH: Fishing netsISSUES REGARDING FISHING NETS MANAGEMENT

• Labour intensive process for the separation of different kinds of plastics, which appeared mixed upon collection.

• Nets are contaminated with organic matter, dirt, sand and salt, as well as foreign objects that have to be removed before collection as far as possible.

• Associated logistical costs are significant, and have to be optimised.

• Collected amounts have to be enough for recycling industries to have an interest in them.

3R FISH: Fishing netsCONTAMINATION IN FISHING NETS

3R FISH: Fishing netsISSUES REGARDING FISHING NETS RECYCLING

• Shredding is necessary before the process can begin in order to turn the nets into manageable pieces.

• Nets have to be washed and/or cleaned before being recycled in order to remove dirt and salt.

• The different plastics, even if separated in the main types, won’t be uniform (PA 6-66; PE and PP).

• Recycled pellets, even if valid for the production of net objects, can’t be used on their own and have to be mixed with raw plastics.

3R FISH: Fishing netsFISHING NETS RECYCLING

3R FISH: Findings

• The waste management system implemented was found to be viable both technically and economically, although this last part is fragile.

• Even if fishing gear waste can be recycled, its profit margins are very slim.

• Demand from recyclers for fishing gear waste is uneven. Great for PA, lower for PE and PP.

• In order to ensure profitability, the logistics of the system must be optimized and enough amounts of waste must be available.

3R FISH: Challenges

• Cooperation between Port Authorities is essential, as this allows them to pool together their waste in order to achieve the needed critical mass to sustain a specific waste management scheme for fishing gear.

• All links of the waste management chain (PAs, waste management companies...) must be integrated and committed to ensuring the viability of the system and do their part.

• Communication between the involved agents and stakeholders must be fluid in order to solve the inevitable problems that arise.

3R FISHOpen question: Why bother to design such a

waste management system?

• Because we must protect the environment – Stewardship.

• Because money can be made out of it – Profit.• Because the law says so – Present and future

legal obligations.– European directives on waste (2008/98), Port

Authorities (2000/59), Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56), Common Fisheries Policy...

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION

JPEREZ@CETMAR.ORG

WWW.CETMAR.ORG

WWW.3RFISH.ORG