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When stakeholders mesh: Management and circularity of end-of-life fishing gear from a network of artisanal fishers
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Old fishing nets and ropes that get abandoned in the ocean don't just disappear—they break down into microplastics that can end up in seafood and, eventually, our bodies. This study shows that a Brazilian program getting local fishers directly involved in collecting and recycling worn-out gear successfully kept nearly 3,000 kg of plastic waste out of the ocean over two years, proving that community-based recycling efforts can make a real dent in marine plastic pollution when paired with supportive policies. The takeaway: cleaner oceans start with practical, people-powered solutions, not just high-tech fixes.
Unmanaged fishing gear, whether lost at sea or discarded on land, represents a significant source of marine litter and a growing challenge for waste management systems. Although global initiatives for the management of end-of-life fishing gear (EOLFG) are largely concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere, examples from the Global South remain limited. In Brazil, for instance, recent national and regional policies that address marine litter have encouraged the circular management of EOLFG. Following this trend, the present study presents the outcomes of an initiative in Ubatuba, São Paulo, which integrates waste management and community engagement. Over a 24-month period, we collected data to assess material flows and identify opportunities for recycling and repurposing EOLFG and to identify key stakeholders engaging with our initiative. In all, 1570 kg of polyethylene and 1439 kg of polyamide were received and processed. Ropes and gillnets were the most common types of fishing gear, representing 92.3% of items. From our results, the lack of large-scale reverse logistics, the heterogeneity and highly degraded nature of EOLFG, and the limited recycling infrastructure in the region constrain the feasibility of recycling initiatives. Despite these challenges, the participation of artisanal fishers and net menders, who ensured a supply of clean and dismantled nets, was pivotal for the continued operation of our management system. Our findings demonstrate that community-based actions, when aligned with regulatory incentives, are essential to advance Brazil's contribution towards the global effort against marine plastic pollution.
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