Ocean Legacy Foundation (OLF), the internationally recognized organization that develops and implements worldwide plastic pollution response programs, has received $551,270 in funding from the Ghost Gear Fund, a federally funded program led by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The funding will be used to expand existing networks across Maritime provinces, develop infrastructure, and increase local material management capacity with skill-based training for marine plastics within Atlantic communities. Ocean Legacy will establish rope shredding and bailing capacity in Truro, Nova Scotia, in partnership with Scotia Recycling, support Coastal Action and partners in performing outreach and material collection as well as work with Full Circle Plastics to continue developing lumber products made from materials collected during cleanup efforts.
“Strategically managing marine plastic waste and pollution across Canada while developing local capacity is absolutely critical in restoring sensitive coastal habitats, preserving vulnerable aquatic species and stimulating socio-economic development in communities recovering from natural disasters,” said Chloé Dubois, co-founder, Ocean Legacy Foundation. “Catalyzing solutions which decarbonize Eastern Canada’s economy will continue to cultivate the necessary global leadership to curb the detrimental impacts of global atmospheric carbon emissions. We are grateful to have received this funding and will continue to collectively make the largest impact we can with local community.”
The Ghost Gear Fund is a federally funded program led by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, intended to support Canada’s commitment to prevent and mitigate the risk of ghost fishing and encourages the development of sustainable fishing practices, particularly as it applies to abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) domestically and abroad. This work is being carried out as part of the Government of Canada’s broader commitments to support national and international efforts to reduce plastics in our oceans and the use of plastics in government operations, as well as to reduce the occurrence and effects of ghost gear around the world. To date, the Ghost Gear Fund has funded 91 projects, for a total of $26.7 million.
“We are excited to be partnering with Ocean Legacy Foundation to advance the opportunities for rope recycling in Atlantic Canada and welcome their support in expanding our local capacity,” said Kelly Mackarous, Coastal and Marine Team Lead, Coastal Action. “We look forward to increasing our current retrieval efforts by collecting rope and netting from local communities intercepting end-of-life gear before it becomes ghost gear.”
“Scotia Recycling is happy to be partnering with Ocean Legacy Foundation in a rope shredding and bailing capacity. Together, I know we will make a positive impact on the circular economy,” said Matt Mayo, General Manager, Maritime Operations at Scotia Recycling.
This funding from the Ghost Gear Fund will be utilized by March 31, 2024.
