Products from Waste Fishing Nets

Some 640,000 metric tons (705,000 tons) of fishing gear is lost or discarded in the ocean every year and annually this gear captures and kills an estimated 136,000 seals, sea lions, and whales. Start-up companies capable of collecting and recycling old gear and turning it into market-ready products have recently emerged to help tackle the problem. Fishing gear presents a growing waste management challenge and when managed poorly contributes to the accumulation of waste plastics in the marine environment. This internet-based research, undertaken between November 2016 and October 2017 searched for products reusing or using materials from fishing gear (nets, ropes, and components). 

The report is intended to highlight commercially available products that have re-used used fishing nets, ropes and/or components (FNRCs) or recycled polymers from FNRCs; and to inspire eco-innovative start-ups to develop, make and manufacture new solutions.