Satlink and recycling company, Bureo, have joined forces to collect 100 tonnes of fishing nets along the coast of Chile, through the Net100-Net + Positive Project.
This initiative, which has achieved its goal six months ahead of schedule, is a collaboration between Satlink, Bureo and the NGO World Animal Protection, through the Global Ghost Gear Initiative, and is also in the running for the Latin America Green Awards.
The Net100-Net + Positive Project recycles and repurposes discarded nets into new products such as skateboards, sunglasses and office chairs. This helps create employment in the artisanal fishing communities of Chile and the funds generated finance social initiatives such as environmental education courses in primary schools, installation of waste collection containers or renewable energy projects.
By reaching their 100 tonnes goal, Satlink fulfilled the commitment made last October during the Our Ocean 2018 conference. Furthermore, the Net+Positiva program now has the potential to collect over 3,000 tonnes of fishing gear per year and it is expected that this recycling model will expand to Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Uruguay and Mexico.
Latin America Green Awards
Net 100-Net Positiva is a finalist in the Oceans category of the Latin America Green Awards, which recognises initiatives that use innovative approaches to recover resources and waste to preserve marine ecosystems. The winners of these prizes will be announced in Guayaquil (Ecuador) next August.
