A question we are asked often is what is the biggest challenge we have to face as part of our daily work. Our answer used to be fishermen and the fishing industry because of their tradional mindset which sometimes makes them hesitant to give away their waste nets. Healthy Seas makes sure their old nets are put back into the loop, instead of ending up in landfills or the natural environment.
So, when we established a partnership with Enaleia, the first professional fishing school in Greece, our work became a whole lot smoother. They have been our allies in reaching out to the fishermen community in the Southern Mediterranean country and advocating about Healthy Seas and circular economy.
The scope of our cooperation with Enaleia involves also educating new fishermen and the set up of fishing net collection points throughout Greece. When we fill a truck with nets, we make sure they are transported for cleaning and sorting and the nylon parts regenerated, along with other nylon waste, into ECONYL® yarn, the basis for new sustainable products such as socks, swimwear, activewear, carpets and more.
Together with Enaleia, we recently launched a campaign to gather intel from fishermen about ghost net locations so that the Ghost Diving Greece team can recover them. A TV and Radio Public Service announcement will be aired nationally throughout August 2020.
Enaleia was selected as one of the top 5 actions with a positive environmental impact in Europe for 2019, by the United Nations Environment Program and that’s just another reason we are proud to work with them. Their positive and relentless energy are an inspiration
