Reducing plastic pollution caused by demersal fisheries

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 196; p. 115634
• Main Authors: Grimaldo, Eduardo, Karl, Christian W., Alvestad, Anja, Persson, Anna-Maria, Kubowicz, Stephan, Olafsen, Kjell, Hatlebrekke, Hanne Hjelle, Lilleng, Grethe, Brinkhof, Ilmar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2023; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agriculture and fisheries science: 900; Biodegradable plastics; Bionedbrytbar plast / Biodegradable plastics; Circular economy; Degradation; Fisheries; Fisheries science: 920; Fisheries technology: 924; Fiskerifag: 920; Fiskeriteknologi: 924; Landbruks- og fiskerifag: 900; Marine litter; Plastforurensning / Plastic pollution; Plastic pollution; Recycling; Recycling / Recycling; Sirkulær økonomi / Circular economy; Sustainability; VDP; Degradation; Biodegradable plastics; Circular economy; Marine litter; Sustainability; Fisheries; Recycling; Plastic pollution
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115634

Marine microplastics generated by wear and tear of bottom trawls and demersal seines during their service life is a growing environmental concern that requires immediate attention. In Norway, these fishing gears account for more than 70 % of the landings of demersal fish species, but they are also the leading sources of microplastics generated by fisheries. Because these two fishing gears are widely used around the world, replacing fossil-based non-degradable plastics with more abrasion-resistant materials, including biodegradable polymers, should contribute to the reduction of marine litter and its associated environmental impacts. However, the lack of available recycling techniques and the need for separate collection of biodegradable polymers means that these materials will most likely be incinerated for energy recovery, which is not favourable from a circular economy perspective. Nonetheless, from an environmental perspective the use of such biodegradable polymers in demersal fisheries could still be a better alternative to standard polymer materials. •Wear and tear of gear components in demersal fisheries contributes to marine litter.•Abrasion-tolerant PET and PA polymers can reduce plastic pollution caused by dolly ropes and demersal seine ropes.•Mix of PE/PP/PET used in dolly ropes and demersal seines are not feasible for recycling and are therefore incinerated.•PET and PA polymers in dolly ropes and demersal seine ropes can allow these materials to be recycled at end-of-life.•Biodegradable polyesters can reduce the impact of microplastic particles caused by wear and tear during service life.