Marine litter and climate change are interconnected global challenges. Plastics discarded into the ocean degrade over time, releasing greenhouse gases such as methane and ethylene, which intensify global warming. Conversely, the effects of climate change, including stronger storms and rising sea levels, exacerbate marine litter by washing debris into waterways. This vicious cycle harms marine biodiversity and reduces the ability of ecosystems like mangroves and coral reefs to sequester carbon effectively, further accelerating climate change.

Collaboration Key to Tackle the Menace

Addressing the complex issues require collaboration across sectors. Governments, industries, researchers, and communities must work together to create sustainable waste management systems. Circular economy models that focus on minimizing waste and maximizing resource reuse, offer promising solutions to reduce both marine litter and greenhouse gas emissions. Partnerships are essential for raising public awareness and ensuring that everyone contributes to protecting marine ecosystems and mitigating climate change. Such collaborations enable scalable and lasting solutions.

TERI and EU’s Joint Initiative

One example of such an initiative is a pilot project implemented in Goa by TERI, with funding from the European Union Resource Efficiency Initiative. This project focused on establishing a collection mechanism for discarded fishing nets, emphasizing the importance of partnerships across the value chain. The project was supported by the Directorate of Fisheries and the Goa State Pollution Control Board, and it engaged approximately 215 traditional fishermen from villages such as Siridao, Odxel, and Cacra.

The project aimed to: (i) understand the challenges faced by fishermen in disposing of fishing nets; (ii) raise awareness about the impacts of marine plastic litter; (iii) provide training on upcycling discarded fishing nets into reusable products on a small scale; and (iv) explore opportunities for establishing a collection mechanism and promoting mass recycling. As part of this initiative, hands-on training workshops on upcycling scrap fishing nets were conducted and attended by 56 participants. These workshops resulted in the creation of decorative products from discarded nets, showcasing the potential of turning waste into valuable items.

To close the loop, the project involved all key stakeholders, including fishermen from pilot villages, government bodies like the Directorate of Fisheries, Goa State Pollution Control Board, Goa Waste Management Corporation, aggregators or scrap net dealers, retailers of fishing nets, and industries specializing in recycling discarded fishing nets. A collection drive in the pilot villages resulted in the recovery of approximately 500 kg of discarded fishing nets. The aggregator compensated fishermen for their contributions and purchased the scrap nets, which were then sent to an industrial facility for mass recycling. This process prevented the nets from being discarded in the ocean or incinerated. Awareness campaigns also educated fishermen on proper cleaning and separation of ropes to maximize financial returns.

Key outcomes of the project included: (i) creating a replicable demonstration model for promoting circular economy principles and reducing marine litter; (ii) successfully engaging key stakeholders across the value chain; and (iii) establishing responsible end-of-life management for discarded fishing nets, showcasing the feasibility of circular economy practices.

Way Forward

Building on the lessons learned from this project, the way forward includes several crucial steps. First, there is a need to increase awareness among fisherfolk about the proper disposal of fishing nets. Second, infrastructural improvements such as establishing collection points in small villages, must be prioritized. Existing Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) at the panchayat level could be utilized for this purpose. Finally, the Directorate of Fisheries could develop and implement policies for the proper disposal of discarded fishing nets and organize periodic collection drives to ensure their effective management.

This pilot project highlighted the importance of partnerships in tackling marine litter. By fostering collaboration and adopting sustainable practices, it is possible to protect marine ecosystems, mitigate climate change, and move closer to achieving a circular economy.#

Dr Ashwini Pai Panandiker works as a Fellow at Centre for Climate Modelling, TERI.