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Define a responsible management system for the improvement of the collection and treatment of fishing gear based on a mapping of actors involved in the process and the analysis of the plastic components of the same, introducing circular economy criteria.

Specific objectives of the project

OE 1. To identify the current situation of the collection, management and treatment system of a segment of fishing gear in Spain by mapping the areas and actors involved in its management.
OE 2. To develop a scientific/technical study on the characterisation of plastic materials used in fishing gear in Spain with the aim of knowing their composition and durability in order to determine their useful life, as well as to be able to develop a roadmap for the future treatment of these materials, linked to a circular economy.
OE 3. To investigate a model of responsible management of 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.
OE 4. To improve awareness, sensitization and collaboration between maritime-fishing actors around the problem of waste derived from fishing activity and compliance with the new European regulations on plastics and the green deal.

A1 Development of a diagnosis of the situation that allows us to know the problems associated with the management of waste derived from fishing nets and gear.
A2 Development of a scientific/technical study on the composition, resistance and durability of gear selected from the information obtained in port visits and the technical characterization study.
A3 Development and validation of an A4 management
protocolCommunication and awareness-raising
The project will work on the communication of all the actions and results of the project and the awareness of the agents involved on the importance of reducing, recovering and recycling waste derived from the end of the useful life of their fishing nets and gear.

The RED-USE project has aimed to define a responsible management system to improve the collection and treatment of fishing gear by introducing circular economy criteria.

During Action 1, the management systems for the collection of nets and gear of a total of 16 ports were analysed. A technical characterisation of Spanish fishing gear and gear has been carried out according to their typology, by fleet segments and representativeness. Finally, a detailed list of producers and marketers of fishing gear was drawn up.

Regarding Action 2, a scientific/technical study was prepared on the composition, resistance and durability of gear selected from the samples obtained from visited ports, with which a scientific article was written. Among other issues, it was determined that nylon fishing gear would be, a priori, more easily thermo-mechanically recyclable than high-density polyethylene (HDPE) gear, with the latter being the most suitable chemical procedure for recycling.

In Action 3, a proposal for a roadmap was drawn up to establish the procedure to be followed for the effective implementation of a protocol for the management of discarded fishing nets and gear in Spanish ports, applying Directive 2019/904 of the European Parliament. At the same time, a proposal for a common protocol for the responsible treatment and processing of residual nets and gear was developed, which would increase the correct management and the amount of material managed, although the diversity of conditions and peculiarities of each port would require it to be adapted to each specific situation.

Finally, the above activities have been completed with the dissemination of the project through three press releases and news published on the websites of the entity and the project and disseminated by more than 30 media, on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter -with more than 21 tweets that had 11,978 impressions, 280 interactions and 39 retweets; 13 publications on Facebook with 3,334 people reached and 150 interactions- and the sending of an informative leaflet aimed at more than 300 target agents. In addition, an informative day was held on the project and its results, with a total of 15 attendees.