UPCYCLING THE OCEANS ITALY
The Italian coast is one of the priority targets for the Upcycling the Oceans project in its expansion throughout the Mediterranean basin. Thus, at the end of 2020 it began its journey in the Lazio Region with a first pilot port that is has been key in collecting information and show the feasibility of the project in Italy.
Port involved
In ITALY
Civitavecchia has thus become the first Italian port to join the project. It has 15 trawlers with more than 60 fishermen working on them, who every day unload the garbage caught in their nets to be sorted and recycled. During the first year of operation, this port has collected more than 14 tonnes of garbage from the bottom of the oceans. In Civitavecchia, the project is supported by CONAD Nord Ovest, which wants to show its commitment to the fishing sector and the conservation of the marine environment.
The SALVA MARE Act opens a door to projects like this one, allowing fishermen to bring to port the garbage that gets caught in their nets.
The short-term objective is to extend the network of Italian ports involved and expand the initiative to other regions. To this end, the Foundation's team is already working with the fishermen, who are the main protagonists, and looking for the necessary partners to establish a nationwide project.
