Dorset Fishermen join new initiative to keep our seas litter free
12 May 2021
Fishermen, Harbour Masters, Litter Free Coast and Sea and Odyssey Innovations have worked together to get new recycling bins in place at Weymouth, West Bay and Lyme Regis.
The bins are provided by Odyssey Innovations, a pioneering organisation based in the South West that have created a circular economy through recycling marine plastic. Fishermen will be placing any old lines, nets and other fishing related waste to be recycled back into things like kayaks.
Bob Summerhayes, Weymouth & Portland Fishermen and Licensed Boatman’s Association explained “Currently, our waste fishing gear is disposed into wheelie bins and taken to landfill so we are extremely pleased to know that we will now be able to recycle our old gear into new useful items and in so doing, improve our environmental impact. We particularly want to thank Odyssey Innovation, along with Dorset Council and those that coordinated to bring this great scheme to Weymouth Harbour.”
James Radcliffe, Bridport Harbour Master added “We are really grateful to Odyssey Innovation and Litter Free Coast and Sea for helping us set this up. Our local fishermen have been wanted to get something like this in place for a while so we are all excited to start using it.”
Odyssey Innovations will be sending all of the materials collected to be recycled and will be keeping track of the amount that Dorset fishermen recycle each year.
Matilda Manley, Coordinator for Litter Free Coast and Sea added “We have some brilliant fishermen in Dorset who are real custodians of the sea. This scheme will help them do even more to help create a litter free sea locally, so we are very grateful to Odyssey Innovations for setting up and delivering this fantastic scheme for free in this area”.
Find out more about Odyssey Innovations.
