Norwegian scientists explore biodegradable fishing gear to combat marine plastic pollution
As global concern about marine plastic pollution grows, scientists in Norway are developing an innovative solution: biodegradable fishing gear. The goal is to make this new type of fishing gear degrade in the natural environment without releasing harmful microplastics, thereby reducing long-term damage to marine ecosystems.
The materials traditionally used to make ropes, nets and fishing lines are very durable and can last for hundreds of years in the environment. These materials entangle and kill various marine organisms in the ocean, causing serious damage to the ecosystem. Lost or discarded fishing gear, known as "ghost gear", is one of the main sources of marine plastic pollution. As these materials gradually break down, they form microplastics that further pollute the marine food chain.
"Fishing gear stays in place for a long time and actually turns the ocean into a plastic landfill," said Christian Karl, a polymer chemist and researcher at the Norwegian Foundation for Science, Technology and Industrial Research (SINTEF) who led the biodegradability testing for the D-Solve project, a research center led by the Arctic University of Norway that focuses on innovative solutions to combat plastic pollution in fisheries and aquaculture.
The project is a research-driven innovation hub that unites industry, universities, research institutes and advocacy groups to develop practical solutions. The main goal of the D-Solve project is to develop and test biodegradable fishing gear that is user-friendly during use but degrades quickly after its service life, leaving no persistent plastic pollution in the ocean. The project focuses in particular on bottom trawls and Danish purse seines, which release large amounts of plastic into the marine environment.
"Experts from the Fisheries Administration ensure that a large amount of discarded fishing gear is collected every year, almost all of it plastic," said Roger Larsen, professor at the Arctic University of Norway. "But there are still unknown quantities. For example, in 2022, at least 40 kilometers of Danish purse seine ropes were accidentally found and recovered, figures that have never been reported."
To this end, the researchers have developed a four-step plan: including developing biodegradable fishing gear, designing simple fishing gear that is easier to recycle, supporting industrial-scale production, and ensuring effective recycling.
