Clean Nordic Oceans

A Nordic network to exchange knowledge and experience about methods and measures to reduce the effects of ghost fishing, littering of the oceans and to increase recycling from commercial and recreational fishing.

Marine Litter

Marine litter is a high priority, both nationally and internationally for the Nordic countries. One of many different sources of marine litter is the loss of fishing gear and components from lost gear. All the Nordic countries have varying amounts of commercial and recreational fisheries and the CNO project is focusing on lost fishing gear.

Ghost Fishing

Fishing activities anywhere in the world leads to the loss of fishing gear with the subsequent danger of ghost fishing. The effects of ghost fishing varies with the type of fishing gear. Ghost fishing is a hidden exploitation of marine resources that leads to unwanted mortality of marine life. Fishing gear is often made of plastic with long durability and some gear may keep on fishing for decades.

Recycling

Recycling is a process to convert waste materials into new materials and is a key component of modern waste reduction. Recycling can prevent the waste of potentially useful materials and reduce consumption of fresh raw materials. Currently, methods for handling and recycling fishing gear are being developed.

LATEST NEWS

18.04.2018

Article series - status Sweden

The efforts of the Swedish agency for marine and water managemnet (Swam) are aimed at making an impact, both in Sweden and internationally, to decrease the amount of waste that is being dumped in the world’s seas and oceans. This involves, for example, providing financial support to projects focused on stopping or limiting marine pollution, along with managing the waste that has already been dumped at sea.

04.04.2018

Entrepreneurs developed a new system to reduce ghost fishing in the pot fisheries.

Every year, large amounts of pots are lost. These pots can fish for years on the seabed after they have been lost. ResqUnit As has come up with a solution that can help reduce the number of ghostfishing pots.

14.03.2018

Article series - Status Finland

A Finnish scientist tells about the status, challenges, and the future in Finnish fisheries in regard to ghost fishing.

Upcoming EVENTS

01.10

Unknown date and place

Clean Nordic Oceans workshop in October

Clean Nordic Oceans has started to plan a workshop in October. The workshop will be separated into two parts, where the first part will discuss "The loss of fishing gear and ghost fishing" and the second part will discuss recycling and receiving plans for discarded fishing gears. The date and more information will be available before June

19.11

Arrecife, Lanzarote, Spain

MICRO2018 Fate and Impact of Microplastics: Knowledge, Actions and Solutions (19-23. November 2018)

While the impacts of microplastics in marine ecosystems have been reported in the literature since the 1970s, many questions remain open. MICRO 2018 provides an opportunity to share available knowledge, fill in gaps, identify new questions and research needs, and develop commitments to operationalise solutions; MICRO 2018 will be a chance to reconvene, share what we have learned, and generate momentum for the work that remains to be done.