Sea Trust Wales is running a Crowdfunder for their Recycle Môr project, to enable them to keep tackling the issue of End of Life fishing gear in Pembrokeshire.
This is an issue that spans the entire ocean, but a difference can be made with local systems to manage fishing gear waste before it ever enters the sea!
The Save Our Wild Isles Community Fund from Aviva will provide £2 for every £1 donated to the cause whilst their fund lasts, turning your £10 donation into £30.
A single abandoned net is estimated to kill 500,000 invertebrates, 1,700 fish and four seabirds! Discarded fishing gear contributes hugely to the issue of plastic pollution in the ocean.
Once the abandoned fishing gear has entered the ocean, it is then known as ghost gear. Ghost gear continues to catch marine species for many years to come. The floating ghost gear not only catches target fish species but entangles and kills species of all shapes and sizes, including porpoises, turtles, seals, and sharks.
Recycle Môr reduces the problems caused by abandoned fishing waste by providing free to use, accessible bins for End of Life (EoL) fishing gear in Pembrokeshire’s commercial harbours.
This removes physical and financial barriers to fishers responsibly disposing of their own gear, whilst encouraging fishers to collect discarded fishing gear and plastic whilst at sea.
The waste is then recycled into useful everyday products by Cornish company - Waterhaul, creating products such as sunglasses, litter pickers, and adventure knives.
Recycle Môr originated as a small-scale feasibility study, but after two years, it has become extremely successful in collecting waste, with seven tonnes of EoL fishing gear being recycled!
But now Sea Trust is at risk of losing the harbour bins, as there is no funding or resources to keep up with the huge demand.
The Crowdfunder, which has a target of £5,000, will raise vital funds for Sea Trust to continue the Recycle Môr project. Any funds raised will go towards transport and postage costs. To donate to save Recycle Môr, follow this link - www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/recycle .