The End of Life (EoL) Fishing Gear Scheme – a partnership between the Welsh government and Odyssey Innovation – is the UK’s only fully nationwide initiative of its kind, offering dedicated disposal points at harbours across Wales for fishers to recycle unwanted nets, ropes, buoys and other plastic fishing equipment.
Deputy First Minister with Responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, visited a collection station in Aberystwyth on 4 July to see the impact of the scheme on the ground.
Speaking at the site, he said: “This remains the only truly nationwide scheme of its kind in the UK, bringing in an additional resource for a previously untapped source of material and supports our aim to become the best recycling nation in the world.”
The initiative has already expanded to ten harbours across Wales, with smaller ports along the Cardigan Bay coastline showing particularly high levels of engagement. The scheme enables fishers to dispose of gear that would otherwise be difficult to manage, often ending up as waste or lost at sea.
Fishing gear is said to be a major contributor to marine litter, estimated to account for 20% of all ocean waste. In Wales, it was the third most commonly found item in last year’s Great British Beach Clean survey, making up 14% of the litter found on beaches.
Recovered gear is sorted and graded before being repurposed into a variety of products, including council street furniture, plant containers and road surfacing materials. Nets and ropes that are suitable for processing are sent to Denmark where they are recycled into canoes, kayaks and the ‘Scuttle the Cuttle’ microplastic-catching scoop.
The ‘Scuttle the Cuttle’ is aimed at young people and community groups, encouraging hands-on environmental action and raising awareness about microplastic pollution. It also helps demonstrate the circularity of materials – showing how discarded gear can find new life in useful products.
Collaborations – ‘fundamental to success’
Rob Thompson from Odyssey Innovation, which operates the Net Regeneration Scheme, said: “The enthusiastic participation of fishermen in recycling their gear has been absolutely essential to the scheme’s success.
“Equally vital has been the Welsh government’s support, which has made it viable to develop these recycling schemes and engage with our industry partners and innovations that utilise the material and reintroduce it into the economy. Ultimately, collaboration is key to achieving our shared environmental goals.”
Jim Evans from the Welsh Fishermen’s Association echoed this sentiment: “Fundamental to the successes of the scheme to date has been the collaborations established since the initial pilot project.
“Importantly, the fantastic voluntary efforts by fishermen and women in Wales who have, and continue, to make a difference by significantly reducing reliance on landfill. Our hope remains that through this scheme a long-term sustainable service can be extended to all ports and harbours throughout Wales.”
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