“The ocean is still the largest rubbish bin (dump) in modern societies today, and sea users are well aware of this. Indeed, it is becoming increasingly common to find floating marine litter (FML) along our coasts.

3 years of investigations carried out by LEMA vessels in the Bay of Biscay and detailed monitoring of collection operations have provided crucial knowledge about this FML.

The waste collected has made it possible to gain knowledge about the different sectors involved in the marine waste problem and to work with them in the search for solutions. 

One of these sectors is the fishing industry, and since their work is done in the sea, we can find nets, lines, traps and other ropes in cross-border waters, which, if left in the environment, could pose a major problem for marine ecosystems and harm wildlife.

This is why we are pleased to hear about various initiatives underway to prevent this waste, such as the EU’s “Indigo” project, to create biodegradable fishing nets. Other action campaigns like BLUENET, GloLitter, or AZTI also aim to help the shipping and fisheries sectors build a future with less plastic.”