The French « Cooperative Maritime » with the support of the French government and the French Plastic value chain has started a project named “PECHPROPRE” (pêche propre = clean fishing) to be performed in 2017 and the 1st half of 2018 to address ocean plastics. The scope of the project is to make an inventory of all plastic products used by fisheries and of all collection systems in place to collect those products at the end of their life.
In 2018, the idea is to benchmark the results with solutions for ocean plastics in place within other member states in EU, with coastal borders with North Sea, Atlantic or Mediterranean Sea. First step realized end of 2016, has been to inform fishermen and fishery industry to participate in the survey. First results are showing that a large majority of products (fishing nets, ropes, etc..) are made of polyolefins (mainly PE) and of PA. Some collection systems are in place at regional level and some of them have already recycling solutions. Inquiries and questionnaires are to be received to improve the data base.
http://www.pechpropre.fr
