Reducing plastic pollution caused by demersal fisheries.

Marine microplastics generated by wear and tear of bottom trawls and demersal seines during their service life is a growing environmental concern that requires immediate attention. In Norway, these fishing gears account for more than 70 % of the landings of demersal fish species, but they are also the leading sources of microplastics generated by fisheries. Because these two fishing gears are widely used around the world, replacing fossil-based non-degradable plastics with more abrasion-resistant materials, including biodegradable polymers, should contribute to the reduction of marine litter and its associated environmental impacts.

Oceanic plastic pollution caused by Danish seine fishing in Norway.

Wear and tear on fishing gear is a sparsely investigated source of microplastic pollution in the sea. In Norway, Danish seine ropes and trawls are the fishing gears that contribute most to this pollution. The main reason for this pollution is that the seine ropes are dragged along the seabed over a considerable distance, creating a friction force that results in high ropes wear.