The EU is underwriting a pilot program that will let fishermen earn cash for ocean trash. If the plan works, it could not only help clean up the debris, but prevent the common practice of tossing up to two-thirds of edible fish caught in nets overboard to maximize profits when the opportunity to harvest a higher-value catch comes along.
Special junk-catching nets and equipment will be distributed to fishermen who wish to participate. They will be able to harvest plastic debris from the Mediterranean Sea and earn payment for their cleanup efforts. Though the program will be subsidized to begin with, the cash for ocean trash backers expect that funds from recycling all that plastic will one day make it self-sustaining.
Sea Garbage Harvests
European Fishermen Earn Cash for Ocean Trash
Trend Themes
1. Ocean Trash Cleanup - The initiative to pay fishermen for collecting ocean trash presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in waste management and environmental conservation.
2. Plastic Recycling - The incentivized collection of plastic debris from the Mediterranean Sea provides a window for disruptive innovation in the recycling industry.
3. Sustainable Fishing Practices - The program's aim to reduce discarding edible fish opens up possibilities for disruptive innovation in the fishing industry, promoting sustainable practices and minimizing waste.
Industry Implications
1. Waste Management - The initiative highlights opportunities for disruptive innovation in waste management techniques and technologies to tackle ocean pollution.
2. Recycling - The collection and recycling of plastic debris presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in recycling processes and technologies.
3. Fishing - The incentivized effort to reduce fish discarding encourages disruptive innovation in fishing practices and technologies for sustainable and efficient harvests.