Every year between 5 and 13 million metric tons of trash make it into the ocean. Most of this garbage comes from land-based activities, but according to some estimates about 20 % of that debris originates from marine activities such as fishing.
It is within this context that SARETU has been born. It is supported by Bermeo Tuna World Capital Association in collaboration with Echebastar, AZTI technology center and the textile company Ternua. Together we’ll give our fishing nets a second life.
This initiative is the result of the cooperation between science and industry and aims to use circular economy strategies in order to offer a solution to the problem of the fishing gear that ends up being abandoned at sea. Our main goal is to pick up discarded tuna fishing nets and recycle them by giving them a new use” says Rogelio Pozo from Bermeo Tuna World Capital.
In order to accomplish this, the SARETU initiative has been organized in four different phases. The first one consists in collecting the purse-seine nets that are discarded in Seychelles, which is the main tuna hub for Basque vessels operating in the Indian Ocean. Secondly, we will recondition those nets so they can be recycled. Once they’ve been processed they will undergo mechanic recycling in order to be turned into ECONYL® nylon. After that third phase we move to the last stage: production.
Specifically, within the framework of this project, we will produce outdoors accessories such as lightweight belt bags and breathable caps as well as multi-purpose bags, perfect for all kinds of everyday activities.
At Echebastar we reaffirm our commitment to sustaintability and environmental conservation. By doing our bit we do a lot.
Further information:
https://www.bermeotunaworldcapital.org/saretu/
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