NEW COLLABORATIVE FISHING GEAR RECOVERY AND REUSE PROJECT

New collaborative fishing gear recovery and reuse project launched by Satlink, ORP and IPNLF in the Maldives. Framed within Satlink’s Zero Impact campaign, this initiative will work with local communities to develop a system for recovering and reusing fishing gear.

● The aim of the initiative, which will be developed in collaboration with the Olive Ridley Project (ORP) and the International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF), is to create a self-sustaining system for the collection and reuse of abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) with long-term continuity and applicability to other areas, through the involvement of local coastal communities, including fishers and citizen scientists.

Satlink, a Spanish company focused on the development of technological solutions that foster the sustainability of the fishing industry and ocean resource protection, has partnered with the Olive Ridley Project (ORP) and the International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF) to establish a programme for the removal and reuse of abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing nets and other fishing gear (known as ALDFG) in the Maldives. Both organisations have ties to the coastal communities of Noonu Atoll, where the project will be developed together with local stakeholders. This area is home to ecosystems of high biological and social value such as coral reefs and turtle nesting sites, which ORP, IPNLF and Satlink aim to conserve through this project.

ALDFG can be especially damaging to marine species through “ghost fishing” and to sensitive reef environments through direct impacts when these abandoned fishing gears drift ashore. In this context, the collaboration aims to build the capacity of local coastal communities to reduce the impacts of ALDFG in a sustainable and long-lasting way. Indeed, by involving and drawing from the strengths and knowledge of the local communities, the project aims to set the stage for similar initiatives on other islands in the Maldives and continue beyond its current two-year scope. The initiative also includes the use of removed nets in pre-existing circular economy initiatives, whether for reuse or recycling, through the artisanal industry, small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs), and/or local artists.

For this purpose, fishermen, citizen scientists and other local stakeholders in Noonu Atoll will undertake training workshops on various subjects, including the impact of ghost nets, ALDFG collection protocols, reuse opportunities and safe release techniques for sea turtles entangled in these nets. In addition, local scientists and biologists will collect and analyse information on the nature of drifting ghost gear in the Noonu Atoll area. These activities will serve to both raise environmental awareness and build capacity for dealing with ghost gear in the involved communities.
Zero Impact Campaign – Satlink is a leading provider of technological solutions to contribute to sustainable and responsible fishing. Through the Zero Impact Campaign, launched in 2019, the company actively engages in initiatives that reduce the risk of ghost fishing and other damage to marine ecosystems. The current collaboration in the Maldives is the latest of these many indicatives. For more information about other projects that come under the umbrella of their Zero Impact Campaign please see Satlink’s website.

About Satlink

Founded in 1992, Satlink is a Spanish technology company focused on the development of Internet of Things (IoT) and end-to-end (E2E) connectivity solutions for knowledge and care of the oceans and related industries. As the world’s leading provider of technology solutions for the fisheries segment – for both industry and regulators – Satlink is committed to fisheries sustainability and ocean conservation. Headquartered in Madrid, Satlink has offices in Spain (Marin), Seychelles, Ecuador, USA, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Korea, and Taiwan, and works with local partners in other parts of the world.

About Olive Ridley Project (ORP)

The Olive Ridley Project (ORP) is on a mission to protect sea turtles and their habitats through rescue and rehabilitation, scientific research, and education and outreach. At the core of our work is a passionate and dedicated team of scientists, veterinarians, conservationists, citizen scientists and volunteers. We pride ourselves in being able to collaborate with a wide range of diverse groups in order to reach our goal and fill data gaps in sea turtle conservation.

About International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF)

IPNLFs mission is to empower responsible fisheries, which give back to the seas and the people that depend on them. IPNLF’s work to develop, support, and promote one-by-one tuna fisheries is subsequently fully aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Photo credit: Olive Ridley Project