IFR supports the fishing association “Black Sea Sunrise” initiative to clean the Black Sea of waste and nets:
The most valuable catch. Fishermen from the "Black Sea Sunrise Association" with a second action to clean the Black Sea of waste and nets.
For the second time in a row, the fishermen from the "Black Sea Sunrise Association" are leading an action to clean the Black Sea of waste and abandoned old nets. The idea is to protect the sea and marine resources, by hunting plastic wastes.
"The most valuable catch" is a project that unites the efforts of about 52 ships and their crews in a valuable and sea-friendly cause, as huge amounts of waste of various materials and sizes are cleaned, and the fishermen hope to find an alternative for recycling the collected "catch". Negotiations are currently underway with a Greek company to recycle the nets taken out of the sea, as there is no alternative for this in Bulgaria.
This year, the fishermen plan to cover the entire Bulgarian Black Sea. Their ambition is to attract more supporters of the idea of protecting the sea from pollution with plastic. During the first operation last year, for the period from October 31 to April 15, 25 ships of the association managed to collect and bring ashore a total of over 7 tons of nets, plastics, and all other wastes, harmful to the sea. The collected amount of lost nets has a total length of over 50 km - enough to block the distance from Cape Emine to the port of Varna. They seek assistance from the institutions of each fishing port, but they are bothered by the bureaucracy.
This year, "The Most Valuable Catch" starts on the 1st of November 2021 and will continue again until about April 15, 2022.
The initiative is not a one-time campaign, but the beginning of a long-term commitment, because the enthusiasts believe that they have to work for the real reduction of harmful impacts and the improvement of the Black Sea ecosystem.
https://dnesplus.bg/varna/nay-tsenniyat-ulov-ribarite-s-vtora-aktsia-za-pochistvane-na-cherno-more-ot-otpadatsi-i-mrezhi_1053772