Line of action:

Status:

Execution date:

General Objective:

To contribute to the possible future implementation of a responsible management model for fishing nets and gear in Spain, incorporating the criterion of extended producer responsibility for the sustainable treatment and processing of materials and promoting the participation of all agents involved in their useful life cycle.

Specific objectives:

• Initiate the implementation of fishing gear and gear waste management models in Spanish ports
• Measure the social, economic and environmental impact of each management system, for the different types of pilot projects
• Establish a strategy with recommendations and best practices for the extension of the management system to other Spanish ports
• Improve awareness, sensitization and collaboration between maritime-fishing actors around the problem of waste derived from fishing activities, as well as in compliance with the new European plastics regulations, waste law and Green Deal.

1. Selection and planning of pilot projects for the implementation of management models
2. Implementation of the pilot projects
3. Analysis and validation of results and drafting of extension strategy document
4. Communication and awareness-raising actions

The second phase of the RED-USE project has achieved the following results:

• Signing of 17 collaboration agreements/agreements or action protocols with 21 agents in the fishing sector.
• Design of 15 fishing net management models in 13 ports and 2 entities in the fishing sector and implementation of 10 pilot projects -eight ports and two companies-.
• Coaching (20) and training (17) actions for participants (netters, shipowners, fishermen, port authorities, public entities, fishing port managers, etc.): training on the correct implementation of individual protocols and on the correct conditions for separating fishing nets, in accordance with current regulations on reducing the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, with Law 7/2022 of 8 April, on Waste and Contaminated Soils and the future regulation on the extended producer responsibility model for fishing gear.
• Proposal for a fishing net management strategy with an action plan at a particular level, recommendations at the territorial level and lessons learned, ranging from the need to adapt to each port/entity and the collaboration of its stakeholders, to monitoring and continuation of training through close technical support and advice with qualified personnel to help the fishing sector, the creation of comprehensive management and logistics networks between the different actors, or more operators, if possible, nearby that are capable of recycling networks, as well as the need for a more active participation of network suppliers and manufacturers.
• Report of results with estimates of social, economic and environmental impact.
  • Removal of more than 18 tonnes of nets (18,198.00 kg) in eight ports and two fishing companies participating in the project
  • Impacts:
    • Social impact: Informing the sector of regulations and job creation (limited, but important as a responsible figure).
    • Economic impact: Reduction of management costs (0 cost for the entity due to the collaborators involved)
    • Environmental impact: Extending useful life and reducing the entry of new material (Towards a Circular Economy)