Scottish Minister, Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment has launched the Fishing for Litter 2008-11Scotland project, and has announced the publication of a report covering the 2005-8 project.

Fishing for Litter is a project promoted by KIMO UK, (Local Authorities International Environmental Organisation) which Scottish fishermen have joined voluntarily, to help clean up Scottish seas.

Rubbish that is trawled up as part of normal fishing activities is put into hardwearing bags on the boat, at sea. This waste is then collected, deposited on the quayside and then properly disposed of.

Scotland's fishermen are already reporting the benefits of fishing in cleaner seas having removed 117 tonnes of litter from the seabed. The successful project has been operating in a network of 15 harbours in different parts of Scotland since 2005, with 110 registered fishing vessels taking part.

The project benefits both the environment and the fishing industry, as well as removing potential hazards to wildlife, marine litter can also damage fishing gear and catches.

Despite many programmes, initiatives and legislation, marine litter remains one of the most significant environmental problems yet to be addressed and affects the marine environment on a worldwide scale.

Around 20,000 tonnes of rubbish is dumped into the North Sea alone every year. Of that, 70% sinks to the seabed, 15% floats on the surface and 15% washes up on beaches. Currently only the proportion that washes ashore is targeted by cleanup and awareness campaigns.

Plastic, the predominant type of marine litter, can entangle or be swallowed by marine mammals and birds and kills an estimated 100,000 mammals and 1,000,000 birds, across the world each year.

Studies as part of the Save the North Sea project showed that 96% of fulmars in the North Sea had plastics in their stomachs and a recent study by Plymouth University has highlighted the abundance of microscopic plastic fragments in the marine environment.

KIMO has also shown the cost to the fishing industry of marine litter, which can be up to £30,000 per boat each year through contamination of catches, broken gear and fouled propellers.

The 2005-08 scheme was supported by the generous sponsorship of SNH, The Crown Estate, The Scottish Executive, Shetland Enterprise, Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar/Western Isles Council and Aberdeenshire Council.

The 2008-11 scheme is sponsored by SNH, The Crown Estate, The Scottish Government, Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar/Western Isles Council , Aberdeenshire Council, The Highland Council, Total UK, Peterson SBS, and The Fisherman's Trust.

The project also benefits from the time given to the project by the staff at all the participating harbours.

Joanna Strathdee KIMO UK Chair stated: We are delighted that the project is receiving such high profile recognition and we hope that this project, pioneered by Scottish fishermen, can become a UK wide funded project in the future.

In supporting the project Mr Lochhead stated, "As the Scottish Government prepares to launch its landmark Marine Bill next year, it is absolutely vital that we have cleaner, greener seas. Fishing for Litter is an imaginative yet simple initiative, successfully reducing marine litter with the involvement of the fishing industry. I am very pleased that the Scottish Government has been able to support the project. I wish it every success for the future."

Fishing for Litter Project Background

The North Sea Directorate of the Dutch Government in co-operation with the Dutch Fisheries Association originally started the Fishing for Litter concept in March 2000.

The aim of the initiative was to clear the North Sea from litter, by providing bags to bring ashore the litter that is gathered in the nets as part of fishing activities and disposing of it on land.

During the first year of the project (up to March 2001) over 120 tons of litter was collected. The co-operation of the vessels and their crew was on a voluntary basis.

Last Updated ( Monday, 22 December 2008 )