Spanish research institute Aimplas is supporting the REPESCA_PLAS project, which is designed to study the effect of plastic waste on marine fauna.
Co-funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, the project is supported by the Fundación Biodiversidad, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Foodstuffs and Environment, through the programme Pleamar.
With the support of fishermen, the project will collect and identify plastic wastes in the ports of Gandia and Vigo to analyse their type and impact on marine fauna
The last phase of the project involves determination of different valorisation possibilities for wastes, helping to use in the manufacturing of new products at industrial level.
Fundación Global Nature, the Asociación Vertidos Cero, the University of Vigo and the Association of Fishermen of Gandia are also taking part in the project.
The collection points in ports will be determined for their subsequent characterization in the first phase.
For seven months, the Association of Fishermen of Gandia and fishermen in the Port of Vigo will collect around 300kg of marine litter.
During the second phase, Aimplas, the Asociación Vertido Cero and the University of Vigo will characterize the marine litter collected to specify define both the type of wastes and their nature and eco-toxicity.
The data will help to find out the effect of plastics in the reproduction of marine species. The data gathered from the study will be supplied to MAPAMA’s official monitoring program of marine litter
The project’s final result will include the analyzing of different valorisation possibilities of plastic wastes and their possible applications, which will help to manufacture two types of demonstrative parts.
Image: REPESCA_PLAS project will study the impact of plastic waste on marine fauna. Photo: courtesy of AIMPLAS.