Seafish researcher Rebecca Spain will be in Wales for two weeks from August 12 to speak with the seafood industry around their needs when collecting and recycling end-of-life fishing and aquaculture gear. Anyone wishing to speak with Rebecca is invited to contact her by email to set up a meeting.
Field research will help inform future sustainable management for end-of-life gear in the UK
Seafish, the public body which supports the UK seafood industry, has launched end-of-life fishing and aquaculture gear surveys to help minimise waste and encourage greater recycling.
When fishing and aquaculture gear reaches the end of its life, it becomes difficult to manage sustainably, due to the cost and complexity of disassembling, and the current low value of the recovered materials meaning many gears end up in landfill.
To help understand what steps could be taken to help drive greater sustainable resource management, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has asked Seafish to speak with the entire gear supply chain including manufacturers / assemblers, fishing vessel owners and skippers, aquaculture businesses, ports / harbours and waste management companies.
Seafish’s researchers will interview supply chain stakeholders to glean important insights, including where gear is manufactured and assembled, the types of materials used, the average lifespan and what happens once the gear reaches the end of its useable life.
The research aims to create a better understanding of how waste can be reduced and where further support is needed around collection and recycling to help work towards a more circular economy.
Seafish’s head of economics, insight and advice, Jennifer Robson said: “These surveys are an opportunity for organisations and stakeholders across the supply chain to have their voice heard on how gear is currently managed, including recycling, once it’s reached the end-of-life.
“By completing these surveys, you could help shape future policies on how to responsibly manage and recycle end-of-life fishing and aquaculture gear.”
The surveys will be conducted in person at ports and harbours, and other sites around the UK.
Telephone, postal and online surveys of foreign manufacturers and waste management companies are scheduled too.
If any of these sectors apply to you, or you have knowledge of the fishing and aquaculture gear supply chain, Seafish would welcome your expertise.
To take part in the survey, please contact EOLFG.survey@seafish.co.uk.
The information provided in the survey will be kept strictly confidential and only anonymised results and findings will be used.
Researchers will be visiting locations across the UK on specific dates.
Key dates:
Researcher Rebecca Spain will visit North Wales from 12/08 and South Wales from 19/08.
To arrange to speak to Rebecca on one of these dates please email rebecca.spain@seafish.co.uk.
Two further weeks of survey work have been scheduled for the end of September with locations yet to be decided.
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