Port takes up sea litter campaign

A CAMPAIGN to get fishermen to help rid the seas of litter has widened its net to Brixham.

Local fishermen are being urged to sign up for the Fishing for Litter initiative started in Cornwall.

Special bags will be provided for litter caught up in their nets. Once ashore the bags can be brought to the harbour and put in a big skip to be collected and recycled or disposed of responsibly at an Environment Agency regulated site.

Cllr Robert Horne, chairman of Torbay Council's harbour committee, said: "Brixham is on the crest of the wave with this conservation initiative.

"As well as being harmful to marine life, litter can pose a serious risk by causing entanglement or breakdown of vessels at sea.

"I am urging Brixham fishermen to join us in this campaign and preserve the marine environment.

"We must all work together to create a sustainable future for the next generation of fishermen."

The Fishing for Litter pilot scheme was launched in Newlyn in March and has now also been rolled out to fishermen in the ports of Looe, Newquay, Appledore and Plymouth.

The pioneering scheme was praised by Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for the Environment, during his visit to Newlyn earlier this year when he spent time with local skippers involved in the project, listening to their concerns about marine litter and its impact on the fishing industry.

Despite many initiatives, marine litter remains one of the most significant problems affecting the marine environment.

A whopping 20,000 tonnes of litter is dumped into the North Sea alone every year.

Items commonly caught in fishing nets and trawls include pieces of plastic and polythene, rope and cord, nets, bottles, rubber, metals and textiles.

If not recovered, all these items would eventually end up on our seabed or littering the region's beaches and shoreline.

Fishing for Litter is designed to recover marine rubbish while raising awareness of the detrimental impact such waste can have on the marine environment.

Brixham harbourmaster Paul Labistour said: "Torbay Council and the harbour authority will always support initiatives to protect the environment.

"I really look forward to the fishing industry getting involved in this scheme.

"This is a great chance for fishermen to show they do care about the environment and that they are responsible fishermen."

The scheme is being run by KIMO, an international organisation of local authorities working to tackle marine pollution and environmental issues. It is funded by the Marine and Fisheries Agency, Environment Agency, Cornwall Council, Cornish Fish Producers' Organisation, The Crown Estate, Duchy of Cornwall, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and Natural England.

Brixham fishermen who want to join the scheme should phone the project officer Sarah Crosbie on 01736 364324, or for more information phone Brixham Trawler Agents on 01803 882325.

Bags are available from Brixham Harbour Office on the quay.