Re:Fish project results and summary
Results in numbers:
- 228 km² of seafloor cleaned of abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear along the coasts of Sweden, Estonia, and Finland.
- 8,763 meters of nets and 2,044 kilograms of fishing gear retrieved by trawling and diving.
- 1,237 kilograms of additional litter removed from the sea and beaches.
- 8.6 million people reached with messages on how to prevent the loss of fishing gear.
Reports will be published on this website later this year.
Abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear, including fishing accessories, are present in all seas, lakes, and streams where recreational fishing is carried out. Gillnets cause unnecessary suffering to fish, birds, and marine mammals.
Additionally, these nets contribute to pollution of both plastic and hazardous substances. It is also a widespread problem that nets are left outdoors where they fragment and spread microplastics in the environment. The Re:Fish project addressed this for three years between 2023-2026, in the Central Baltic Sea, starting with Sweden, Finland and Estonia.
Implementation
The project conducted retrieval operations, clean-ups, collection of end-of-life gear, and citizen science activities to acquire knowledge, and conducted awareness-raising campaigns about the issues. Re:Fish did not only remove plastic of the central Baltic Sea for improved environmental health, but it also activated relevant actors (recreational fishers, producers and retailers, NGOs, Universities, and authorities) to implement preventive actions and better monitoring of lost recreational fishing gear in the future.
During the project, study visits were made to recycling facilities, and workshops were held with producers, retailers, NGOs, schools, and the public. The project partners attended fairs for recreational fishers to raise awareness about the issue of ghost fishing. In addition, surveys were conducted to better understand recreational fishers’ attitudes and practices regarding gear loss.
The findings, combined with insights gathered through workshops involving government authorities, organisations, retailers, and producers, provide a solid foundation for more effective future strategies and policy implementation. The results also offer guidance on compliance with the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUP Directive). Since January 2025, producers and sellers of plastic fishing gear have been required to take responsibility for collecting end-of-life gear and ensuring proper waste management. Comprehensive project reports will be published in 2026 via the Central Baltic Programme and partners’ websites.
Results
- Through coordinated dragging and diving operations, the project cleaned 228 km² of Baltic Sea coastal waters. This resulted in the removal of 8,763 metres of nets and 2,044 kg of abandoned fishing gear.
- Recycling stations for end-of-life fishing gear were established in Finland and Estonia. Sweden already had an infrastructure for collecting and handle end-of-life fishing gear that is treated at the Swedish marine recycling station.
- The project also collected 1,237 kg of additional marine litter from the Baltic Sea and surrounding beaches. These efforts not only helped restore marine habitats but also prevented long-term environmental damage.
- A selection of recreational fishing nets from the end-of-life collection was analysed to evaluate their potential for material reuse. No harmful substances were detected that would restrict further utilisation, and the material was successfully processed, demonstrating clear feasibility for manufacturing new products.
- The Finnish Environment Institute’s Rosgis reporting service, promoted throughout the project, is an effective tool enabling citizens around the Baltic Sea to report lost fishing gear and other litter. It is published in five languages Finnish, English, Estonian, Latvian, and Swedish. By strengthening public participation and citizen science, it contributes directly to a cleaner marine environment.
- Throughout the project, public awareness campaigns and events reached more than 8.6 million people across Finland, Sweden, and Estonia, further strengthening responsible practices in recreational fishing.
Interregional cross border collaboration
The EU Interreg Central Baltic Programme Secretariat has highlighted Re:Fish as “a strong example of hands-on environmental action that combines practical retrieval with preventive measures and citizen engagement.” The project’s strength lies in its cross-border collaboration, bringing together authorities, researchers, recreational fishers, and youth from three countries to share knowledge and scale solutions for a cleaner and safer Baltic Sea.
