Production and assembly

The production and assembly of fishing gear in the Nordic countries involves a combination of local craftsmanship and imported materials. Much of the fishing gear is made from virgin plastics derived from petrochemical industries, including materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyamide (nylon), with other plastics and metals also being used. Raw materials such as twines and ropes are often imported, and assembly is performed locally or by specialised netlofts. In some cases, complete fishing gear is imported and sold directly to fisheries, while the Nordic countries also export assembled gear.

Considerations pertaining to recycling and the circular economy are gaining importance in the fishing gear industry (Hampiðjan Group, 2023). Although a small but growing effort is being made to incorporate recycled materials into new fishing gear, it is still more common to use virgin plastics. The challenge lies in the complexity of materials used in fishing gear, which often includes mixed polymers that are difficult and costly to recycle. High costs are associated with sorting, dismantling, and cleaning the gear before it can be reused or repurposed, which makes large-scale recycling efforts challenging. This is especially problematic in remote fishing communities, where transport costs for recycling can be high.

To improve circularity, stakeholders are exploring opportunities to redesign fishing gear for easier recycling, prompted by ongoing discussions and growing calls for innovation. For example, reducing the variety of materials used in fishing gear and improving traceability by way of tagging systems to track gear loss are key steps being discussed. Marine biodegradable materials are also being explored, and although their practical use is still limited (SFI Dsolve, 2023), concerns about unintended environmental consequences remain. Moreover, workshops and projects advocate adopting guidance standards for the circular design of fishing gear to encourage the use of more recyclable materials and reduce reliance on virgin plastics (CINEA, 2023; OSPAR Commission, 2020).​

Equally important is the reuse aspect inherent in the maintenance of fishing gear. Fishing gear is continuously repaired both by the users themselves and by the producing netlofts, a process that generates its own stream of waste. Like the assembly process, these repair activities yield materials and components that can be recovered and reintegrated into the production cycle, thus forming a vital part of the gear’s circular economy.

The Nordic countries have initiated the development of collection points for old fishing gear and improved port-side co-ordination to prevent gear loss and contamination. However, infrastructure for collection and recycling still needs to be further developed, and recycling facilities are scarce, making large-scale recycling of EOLFG difficult. In addition, the perception that recycled materials are of lower quality than virgin plastics still hampers wider adoption​ (OSPAR Commission, 2020).

It is important to ensure industry collaboration, the development of new standards, and technological advancements to reduce the environmental impact of fishing gear while promoting a circular economy approach in moving forwards.

Importing fishing gear components, such as twine, rope, and synthetic fibres, is driven by the high demand for durable and efficient materials in modern fisheries. These materials, which are primarily derived from petrochemical processes, include polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyamide, which are imported from major industrial suppliers, often outside of the Nordic region. The value of imported fishing gear and related components has been substantial in recent years. In 2023, Norway imported fishing-related goods worth approximately USD 4.85 million, with China being the largest supplier, accounting for USD 1.79 million (World Bank, 2023).

Importing fully assembled fishing gear, in particular pots or parts of specialised gear, is common in the Nordic countries. Fishing gear or parts can be designed and manufactured in other European or Asian countries and imported into the region by fishers or any domestic supplier. Despite local production capabilities, the Nordic countries, including Iceland, Norway, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands, rely on these imports due to the globalised nature of the fishing industry and the constant need for high-quality, durable gear that meets environmental and operational standards​.

In the Nordic region, manufacturers of large-scale fishing gear such as purse seines and trawls have developed sustainable practices to manage offcuts and remnants. During the production of such gear, primarily made from synthetic materials such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or nylon, offcuts of nets, ropes, and other components are collected. These offcuts are often sorted into categorised containers and effectively treated as high-quality raw material because they are unused and possess similar properties to virgin plastics. This practice helps reduce waste and provides an immediate source of recyclable material for manufacturing new nets.

Many netloft manufacturers integrate offcuts directly into their production processes. These facilities frequently produce custom fishing gear, sometimes combining virgin plastic pellets with reclaimed offcuts. Other independent netlofts in the region are increasingly embracing this practice, recognising the environmental and cost benefits of reusing materials. This closed-loop recycling approach ensures that offcuts are efficiently reintegrated into production, thereby reducing waste and minimising the environmental impact of fishing gear manufacturing.

This approach reflects a broader trend in the fishing gear industry, in which sustainability is becoming a key consideration, particularly in regions like the Nordics, which are heavily dependent on marine resources. Efforts to reuse offcuts help to reduce the reliance on virgin plastics and align with circular economy principles that are increasingly being integrated into Nordic industrial practices​.

For instance, companies such as Nofir, established in Norway in 2008, collect discarded equipment from fishing and fish farming industries worldwide. They process materials such as trawl nets, purse seine nets, gill nets, and ropes into raw materials for the recycling industry, which are used in various products (Nofir, n.d). Furthermore, Danish company Plastix has developed a method to recycle discarded fishing gear by converting it into pellets that can be used to produce plastic items. This process not only reduces waste but also provides a sustainable source of raw materials for manufacturing (Eurofish, 2017). These initiatives exemplify the commitment within the Nordic fishing gear industry to sustainable practices and the circular economy, effectively managing waste and reducing environmental impact.