Norwegian Seafood Research Fund (FHF) is looking for applications for the NoK5 million it has available towards a two-year development of technology to reduce plastic waste from seine ropes.
Plastic-based materials are key components of practically all fishing gears, and abrasion of these contributes to plastic waste in a variety of forms entering the marine environment. FHF states that the fishing sector, the supply side of the industry and the authorities all have a strong shared interest in identifying a seine rope that has reached the end of its useful life.
Seine ropes are currently not recycled in Norway and are disposed of as landfill, and there is a need for a method to separate metal and plastic-based materials that are combined to manufacture seine ropes as part of developing technology to recycle worn-out seine rope.
A previous FHF research project (901669) demonstrated that biodegradable polyester (biopolyester) is 3-5 times more durable than standard polyethylene/polypropylene materials that are currently used in seine ropes and other gear components, and therefore have a significant potential to reduce plastic waste.
According to FHF, the objective of the two-year project is to develop, test and refine seine ropes to reduce plastic waste, by producing and testing biopolyester ropes for their endurance, elasticity and strength, including with comparative trials of standard and biopolyester gear under commercial conditions. FHF would prefer results to be documented over the course of two fishing seasons and would also prefer to see co-operation between fishing operators, industry, research bodies and administration.
