Tackling Ocean Plastics At Source
Following three years of research and sea trials, the EU-funded SEARCULAR project has delivered a comprehensive blueprint to establish a circular economy for fishing gear across Europe.
Bringing together researchers, fishers, and industrial innovators, the initiative set out to tackle fisheries-related plastic pollution at source by developing sustainable gear materials and improving port waste infrastructure.
The project focused on addressing the environmental toll of lost or discarded fishing gear, which persists in marine ecosystems, degrades into microplastics, and accumulates in seafood supply chains.
Recycled Ropes and Biodegradable Gear
Among the project’s key technological breakthroughs was the recovery of four tonnes of end-of-life tropical purse seine nets, which were mechanically recycled into recycled polyamide (rPA) monofilament strands.
Tested on commercial trawlers in the North Sea, Cantabrian Sea, and Bay of Biscay, the rPA dolly ropes matched the performance of conventional gear while offering higher abrasion resistance and reducing marine litter release.
In Norwegian waters, SEARCULAR partnered with research institute SINTEF to conduct commercial-scale trials of the world’s first biodegradable seine ropes.
Participating skippers reported that the biodegradable ropes matched traditional gear in strength and wear resistance, while eliminating microplastic shedding and showing zero toxicity in environmental testing.
Reducing Habitat Damage in Deep Waters
To address lost fishing apparatus in tropical tuna fisheries, the project deployed fully biodegradable drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (BIOFADs) in the Indian Ocean, following initial testing in the Mediterranean.
Traditional dFADs frequently break loose and beach on sensitive coral reefs, causing severe habitat destruction.
The new BIOFAD design reduces long-term plastic accumulation while helping regional commercial fleets meet tightening European and international environmental compliance targets.
Bilbao Selected for Smart Recycling Hub
Alongside gear innovations, SEARCULAR processed nearly 40 tonnes of end-of-life gear to evaluate waste management infrastructure across European ports.
Led by Basque technology centre GAIKER, the project designed and validated a 3D model for a ‘Blue Point’ facility—a smart, centralised hub for collecting, classifying, and conditioning discarded gear.
The Port of Bilbao was selected as the optimal location for the pilot Blue Point facility, serving as a regional processing centre connected to smaller satellite ports.
Delivering Policy Recommendations to Brussels
To ensure long-term industry adoption, SEARCULAR has submitted a formal set of policy recommendations to DG MARE and the European Commission via an open letter.
The project team emphasised that achieving a full transition to circular gear relies on social acceptance among fishers, regulatory alignment, and clear evidence of operational reliability.
“SEARCULAR has overcome the many challenges of innovation and change on this scale,” said Project Coordinator Oihane C. Basurko of research centre AZTI, noting that the trial outcomes provide a clear, practical roadmap for clean seas and sustainable fisheries across Europe.