Survey on Fishers' Preferences for Biodegradable Fishing Gear

In Norway, 80-90% of marine litter has sea-based origins, often due to abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG). The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries retrieves ALDFG using resource intensive cruises for collection. Much ALDFG nonetheless remains in the ocean, resulting in ghost fishing and other detrimental consequences of plastic pollution, such as reduced quality of recreational areas and negative impacts on marine organisms. This project aims to examine the preferences for reduction of ALDFG from the perspective of fishers through the adoption of biodegradable fishing gear. The project is based on a telephone survey among 700 to 900 fishermen, both crew and boat owners. This project is a part of the NFR project "Centre of Research-based Innovation - Biodegradable Plastics for Marine Applications" and the telephone survey is funded by Handelens Miljøfond.