Waste fishing gear

Fishing gear recycling

The predecessor of Fisheries Iceland, the Federation of Icelandic Fishing Vessel Owners (LÍÚ), reached an agreement with the Recycling Fund (Úrvinnslusjóður) in August 2005 regarding the processing of fishing gear waste made of synthetic materials. Fishing gear made of synthetic materials was, therefore, exempted from recycling fees which were to be imposed on 1 September 2005. The agreement entered into force on 1 January 2006. The agreement obligated the Federation to operate or reach an agreement with a third party to operate a certified collection station for recyclable fishing gear waste made of synthetic materials and ensure that such waste was recycled.

The goal of the agreement is to ensure that the fisheries sector bears the responsibility of processing fishing gear made of synthetic materials, to seek to minimise its impact on the environment and to seek minimise the cost involved in disposing of fishing gear waste.

Fishing gear waste is at present transported from Iceland for recycling in Lithuania and Denmark. Good results have been achieved with this arrangement.

All Icelandic legal entities may, on fulfilling the conditions listed below, submit fishing gear waste made of synthetic materials from Icelandic fishing vessel operators to the collection station.

Collection station

The following entities offer means of disposing of waste fishing gear to recycling plants.

• The collection station for fishing gear waste is located at Skipaþjónustan (Vessel Services) at Grandinn in Reykjavík.
• The fishing gear manufacturer Hampiðjan accepts fishing gear waste at all its operating units throughout Iceland.
• The fishing gear manufacturer and service provider Ísfell accepts fishing gear from its clients at all its operating units throughout Iceland.
• The fishing gear manufacturer Egersund Iceland accepts fishing gear waste at its operating unit in Eskifjordur, Iceland.
• The fishing gear manufacturer of Skinney-Þinganes accepts fishing gear waste at its operating unit in Hornafjordur.

Terms of reception

Terms for the reception of recyclable fishing gear made of synthetic materials according to Fisheries Icleland and Skipaþjónusta Íslands ehf. on the operation of collection stations for recyclable fishing gear waste:

• Fishing gear made of synthetic materials refers to fishing gear specified in Annex XVII to Act No. 162/2002 in Icelandic law, as subsequently amended.
  • Fishing gear waste must be dry (6% maximum moisture content) and sorted according to type.
  • The fishing gear waste must be free of all foreign items, foreign materials and impurities such as sand, oils, fish and marine vegetation.
  • The fishing gear waste must be free of all accessories such as floats, lead, rubber, chains and wires.
• The collection entity accepts recyclable fishing gear waste from the depositor on working days from 08:00 to 17:00.
• Reception must be booked with at least 24 hours’ notice if the volume is greater than one tonne. If less, then it must be booked with at least 4 hours’ notice. When booking, the estimated volume must be specified, as must the type of fishing gear in question.
• On receipt, the collection entity and the depositor or his representative must complete a collection form specifying the volume, origin and type of fishing gear waste. Both parties must confirm the report with their signatures, and the depositor shall be provided with a copy.
• In the event that there is any doubt that the fishing gear waste fulfils the conditions of first item, the collector may refuse acceptance or require payment from the depositor for the cost of necessary treatment to make the waste recyclable.
• On the fulfilment of the conditions of Items 1–5 above, foreign entities or their representatives may deposit fishing gear waste made of synthetic materials from foreign vessels to collection facilities in exchange for direct payment to the contractor.