Fishing for Litter is a voluntary initiative, led by KIMO UK and supported through the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS). The project engages with fishers, facilitating collection of litter at sea to be disposed of appropriately at participating ports and harbours. Simultaneously, there is ongoing work to raise awareness surrounding the economic and environmental impact of such litter.
With £199,025 in grant funding (project value: £265,367), the initiative has extended its reach across England, enabling the recruitment of 57 new fishing vessels and the establishment of 35 harbour-based litter drop-off points.
Since the scheme began, over 350 tonnes of marine litter have been removed from the marine environment. As well as reducing waste at sea, the project contributes to wider community engagement by working with schools and local organisations to raise awareness of marine conservation and the impacts of litter.
The expansion supports the delivery of national and international targets, including the OSPAR Regional Action Plan for Marine Litter, and has been recognised by Defra as a leading UK initiative for industry-led marine litter removal.
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