More rubbish - donated by a Scot aboard a Bird

FISHING FOR LITTER NETWORK PROVING A SUCCESS

For the first time, a Scottish vessel has deposited a bag of marine litter in a harbour participating in the South West’s Fishing For Litter scheme. The Susan Bird (FD 357), skippered by Steven Girgan and based in Kirkcudbright, landed the bag in Newlyn Harbour last week. The bag contained a variety of items including a large amount of rope and plastic and has demonstrated the benefits of an international network of harbours set up to take part in the pioneering Fishing For Litter scheme.

Tom Piper, Scotland’s Fishing For Litter project coordinator is delighted with the news and commented, "This demonstrates that the modern, transient fishing fleet welcomes a wide network of Fishing For Litter ports to manage marine debris recovered under this scheme and we are working hard to increase our coverage in 2011”.

241 fishing vessels from across 23 ports in Scotland and the South West of England have already signed up to the scheme. Between them they have recovered over 160 tonnes of marine litter to date.

The project got underway in the South West of England last year. Fishermen working out of Newlyn have demonstrated their support by managing to fill 5 skips since facilities were put in place during March 2009.

"A large percentage of the waste recovered has been hundreds, if not thousands of pieces of plastic and polythene that have been floating in the water column. We are also managing to recover heavier items from the seabed including lost fishing gear, tins, metal drums, agricultural crates, rope and even a few pairs of trainers believed to be from the wreck of the Cita, the bulk-carrier container ship that ran aground in 1997 off the Scillies", said Sarah Crosbie, South West project coordinator.

Paul Trebilcock, Chief Executive of the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation commented, “The response from skippers has been magnificent; everybody has been enthusiastic and willing to get involved in the Fishing For Litter project. Having bags supplied and quayside sites for the dedicated skips makes this an easy way of bringing ashore all the rubbish caught. Many fishermen have always brought in rubbish caught in their nets however this has often been sporadic in nature and often on an ad-hoc basis, Fishing For Litter gives us an easy and measurable way to recognise the positive contribution that fishermen make as custodians of the marine environment.”
Developed by KIMO, the Fishing for Litter scheme provides fishing boats with large bags which enables collection of any marine litter hauled in with the catch. When full, these bags are collected from participating harbours, safely removing the litter from the marine environment. This helps wildlife, helps keep our beaches clean and reduces hazards to people who use the sea.

Fishing For Litter South West is sponsored by The Marine and Fisheries Agency, Cornwall Council, The Environment Agency, Natural England, The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, The Cornish Fish Producers Organisation, The Crown Estate and The Duchy of Cornwall.

The Fishing For Litter scheme in Scotland is sponsored by SNH, The Crown Estate, The Scottish Government, Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar/Western Isles Council, Aberdeenshire Council, The Highland Council, Total E&P UK Ltd, 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.

Contact details:

South West of England
Sarah Crosbie: Project Coordinator, C/o Seafood Cornwall Training,
The Strand, Newlyn, Cornwall TR18 5HW.
Email: sarah@seafoodcornwalltraining.co.uk
Tel: (01736) 364324
Scotland
Tom Piper, KIMO UK Co-ordinator, c/o Aberdeenshire Council, Alford Area Office, School Road, Alford, AB33 8TY.
Email: tom.piper@kimo.shetland.org Tel: (01975) 564807 Mob: 0778979077