DOCUMENTS AND REPORTS
THE BALTIC SEA BLUEPRINT
THE NEW, comprehensive knowledge generated by the MARELITT Baltic project has been condensed into this Baltic Sea Blueprint. The blueprint crystallises the most crucial requirements into step-by-step recommendations for addressing mitigation within each of the four activities.
This blueprint distils the detailed project findings, which are available in 11 reports, into recommendations, lessons learned and best practices.
Derelict fishing gear mapping and retrival methodologies – Report 1
This report presents the methodologies used to map the host and hot spot areas and select retrieval areas as well as analyse the data from retrieval activities carried out in the project. It also contains recommendations related to future activities aimed at reducing the impact and the amount of derelict fishing gear depositedin the Baltic Sea.
Strategies for preventing gear loss during fishing in Baltic Sea – Report 2
A sustainable long-term mitigation of the DFG problem requires a reduction of the number of nets that are lost during fishing operations. This study is assessing potential solutions using a fishing strategic approach to achieve the goal.
Development of a fishing gear marking system based on passive RFID technology – Report 3
Objective of this study was to develop a modern, practical high-tech solution for fishing gear marking allowing automatic identification and processing of recorded “in situ” data. The developed solution is a low-cost “smart tag” based on UHF RFID technology. The tag can be used with both new and existing fishing gear. Report contains results of both laboratory and field tests during authentic fishing operation and discusses a large-scale implementation in practical fishing.
Photo: Marek PRess
Harbour Reception Survey – Report 4
The objective was to assess the readiness, capability and capacity of Baltic Sea fishing harbours to receive, separately collect and sort the derelict fishing gear (DFG) collected from the sea as well as end-of-life fishing gear. Fifty fishing harbours by the Baltic Sea were visited during the survey. The results reveal that more than half of the harbours selected for participation in the survey have organised waste management services at a reasonably good level...
Photo: wwf germany
Recycling Options for Derelict Fishing Gear - Report 5
When derelict fishing gear (DFG) is retrieved from the sea, the material is highly mixed and contains metal anchors, chains, organic matter, and other marine litter as well as nets, ropes, float and sink lines. So how could retrieved fishing gear be treated to enter the value and recycling chain? And what preparation is necessary for a full recycle scheme? This report on technical feasibility describes in detail the results of all DFG recycling trials and the physical and chemical properties derived to evaluate the material quality of lost fishing gears retrieved from the Baltic Sea.
DFG treatment scheme - Report 6
This report provides a roadmap for the processing of DFG after it lands in port. The DFG treatment scheme covers practical and policy recommendations for all DFG management stages, from harbour reception to recycling or disposal.
Practical guidance on DFG pre-processing – Report 7
The report describes the practical requirement and needs of how to pre-process DFG in the ports, which tools needed and what to plan ahead for such actions.
Photo: p-dyk sweden
Prestudy on Sonar Transponder – Report 8 (Avalon Innovation)
One of the critical challenges of the MARELITT Baltic project is to identify more cost-efficient techniques – enabling more environmentally friendly, smoother and more accurate ways to detect and locate lost fishing gears. One potential way is to use hydro-acoustic surveying, like side-scan sonars. The MARELITT Baltic project has ordered a literature study on different kinds of technologies to strengthen the respond/echo from sonars to assess the possibility to “better see DFG in future”.
Photo: WWF Germany
Environmental Impact Assessment – Report 9 (WSP Sweden)
The environmental impacts of DFG retrieval operations have, to our knowledge, never before been thoroughly investigated and development of guidelines or good environmental practices are needed. These guidelines can be used during the planning of retrieval operations to highlight the possible impacts the operation can have on the environment and can help to minimize these impacts. It is important to consider whether the retrieval operations themselves can cause harm to the marine environment, and therefore when it is accordingly better to avoid DFG retrieval.
Ammunition Risk Assessment Study – Report 10 (EGEOS GmbH)
This study concerns the safety of DFG retrieval crews and divers and the risk imposed by warfare ammunitions potentially encountered on seafloor or on wrecks.
Study on logistics and infrastructure required for DFG treatment – Report 11 (Fraunhofer UMSICHT Oberhausen)
The logistics study is an external investigation providing recommendations on the infrastructure required to allow for DFG and end-of-life fishing gear to enter the existing waste management system. The study also incorporates an economic analysis of the expected costs for regular waste management of both retrieved and discarded, end-of-life fishing gear (economic viability). The logistics recommendations were compiled by Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT in Oberhausen, Germany, and served as input to the DFG treatment scheme.
This is MARELITT Baltic
This brochure contains a simplified picture of the causes and consequences associated with derelict fishing gear in the Baltic Sea. It also presents the MARELITT Baltic project, aims and work process from an overall perspective.
The brochure is free to download.
Communication Strategy
All communication concerning the MARELITT Baltic project will be done in accordance with the Interreg guidance for communication and with the requirements of the Monitoring Committee (MC), the Managing Authority/Joint Secretariat (MA/JS). The aim of the communication in the MARELITT Baltic project is to ensure that external stakeholders are well informed about the progress, outputs and impacts of the MARELITT Baltic project.
Please click below to visit the full interactive map produced for the project..
In 2018 Baltic Diving Solutions were contracted by WWF Polska foundation on behalf of the MARLEITT Baltic INTERREG Project to perform diving operation of removal of abandoned fishing nets from the wrecks of the vessels in German and Polish sector of Baltic Sea.
