More rubbish

Fishing for litter campaign widens it's net

It started in Newlyn but now fishermen across South Devon are being invited to sign up to the pioneering Fishing For Litter scheme as it gets underway in the ports of Brixham and Plymouth this week.

The initiative was praised by Hilary Benn The Secretary of State for the Environment, during his visit to Newlyn earlier this year when he spent time with local skippers involved in the project, listening to their concerns regarding marine litter and its impact on the fishing industry. The project has been operational in Newlyn since March 2009 and aims to provide additional facilities for fishermen in the ports of Looe, Newquay and Appledore.

Despite many initiatives, marine litter remains one of the most significant problems affecting the marine environment. 20,000 tonnes of litter is dumped into the North Sea alone every year.

Fishing For Litter provides vessels with large bags to collect marine litter caught in their nets. When full, these bags are deposited safely on the quayside, the waste is then moved to a secure container ready for disposal at a site regulated by the Environment Agency. The project is designed to recover marine litter whilst raising awareness of the detrimental impact such waste can have on the marine environment.

Pete Bromley, Sutton Harbour Master and Fisheries Manager said; “Sutton Harbour Fisheries are totally committed to the South West Fishing industry and as such are happy to support the ‘Fishing for Litter’ scheme which clearly demonstrates a responsible approach to the environment and a determination to continue to develop a sustainable regional fishery”.

Items commonly caught in fishing nets and trawls include pieces of plastic and polythene, rope and cord, nets, bottles, rubber, metals and textiles. If not recovered, all these items would eventually end up on our seabed or littering the region’s beaches and shoreline.

Supported by the Cornwall Sea Fisheries Committee and funded by The Marine and Fisheries Agency, The Environment Agency, Cornwall Council, The Cornish Fish Producers’ Organisation, The Crown Estate, Duchy of Cornwall, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Natural England, the project forms part of the Fishing for Litter network run by KIMO, an international organisation of local authorities working to tackle marine pollution and environmental issues.

Chair of Torbay Council's Harbour Committee, Councillor Robert Horne said: "Brixham is on the crest of the wave with this conservation initiative. As well as being harmful to marine life, litter can pose a serious risk by causing entanglement or breakdown of vessels at sea.

"I am urging Brixham fisherman to join us in this campaign and preserve the marine environment. We must all work together to create a sustainable future for the next generation of fishermen."

Fishermen working out of Brixham and Plymouth wishing to join the scheme should contact Sarah Crosbie, Project Officer on 07812 137509 or 01736 364324 or their Harbour Office for more information.

Visit www.fishingforlitter.org for more info.