Fishermen find discarded fishing gear is the most common marine waste collected

Fishermen in Taiwan's Changhua County are playing a crucial role in combating marine pollution, acting as the first line of defense against waste accumulating in the ocean.

Last year, a "Sea Cleaning Alliance" comprising fishermen and divers collected a staggering 8,183 kilograms of waste. The most significant contributor to this total was discarded fishing gear and nets, which weighed in at 3,095 kilograms. This amount far exceeded that of discarded containers and general trash, highlighting a persistent problem in marine environments.

The Changhua County Environmental Protection Bureau emphasized that beyond general litter drifting into the sea, abandoned fishing equipment poses a significant challenge due to its difficulty in retrieval. Consequently, the bureau encourages fishermen to actively collect any marine debris they encounter while at sea.

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The biggest problem is discarded fishing nets and gear, because once they fall into the sea, they face difficulties in retrieval.

In addition to these cleanup efforts, the environmental bureau has been actively involved in marine environmental education, engaging 1,714 people. They have also creatively repurposed oyster shells into DIY craft materials, producing intricate owl figurines. These initiatives have earned the bureau a "Superior" award in marine management from the Ocean Conservation Administration.

This year, the bureau is incorporating "chemical disaster response" into its educational training for the first time, aiming to enhance preparedness for maritime oil pollution incidents. The efforts demonstrate a comprehensive approach to marine protection, combining cleanup operations with education and innovative waste management.

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Fishermen are not only good at fishing, but they are also excellent at collecting marine waste.