EPR for fishing gear containing plastic has just entered into force. This is a consequence of the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive, which aims, among other things, to reduce the amount of plastic in nature and promote more environmentally friendly alternatives.
The new EPR system works in the same way as the system known from, for example, packaging. If a company helps place a product on the market – for example as a producer, importer or wholesaler – it also has the practical, financial and legal responsibility for ensuring that the product is handled when it becomes waste, so that it can be reused or recycled as far as possible.
Handling an EPR obligation can only be done collectively, and the entire industry has therefore entered into a collaboration with Retur, the cross-sector hub for EPR, to establish the non-profit PRO Fiskeriretur.
“We have had a good dialogue with the industry about how to create a strong community that can collectively lift the EPR obligation. The fact that Fiskeriretur now represents the entire industry creates significant economies of scale and also clearly shows that each company sees it as a matter of course to take on its share of the responsibility. We look forward to helping members ensure that less fishing gear ends up in the sea when it reaches end of life,” says Morten Harboe-Jepsen, CEO of Retur and Fiskeriretur.
The two largest members of Fiskeriretur by volume are Cosmos Trawl, with departments in Hanstholm, Hirtshals, Skagen and Thyborøn, and Egersund Group Danmark, with departments in Hanstholm, Hvide Sande, Skagen and Thyborøn.
“It is in everyone’s interest that we find a long-term and effective way to handle EPR. The fact that we can all find common ground and support the solution we have developed together with Retur will benefit both the marine environment and the ongoing effort to recycle as much as possible of the materials in end-of-life fishing gear,” says Michael Lassen, CEO of Cosmos Trawl A/S.
“With the establishment of Fiskeriretur, we now have a professional setup based on many years of experience with EPR. This means that, as an industry, we are in safe hands and can start meeting our obligations straight away,” says Jesper Hjermitslev, CEO of Egersund Trawl DK.
EPR for fishing gear containing plastic is expected to cost the fishing industry millions of kroner annually, and 300–600 tonnes are expected to be collected each year.
Waste will primarily be collected in the major fishing industry ports of Hanstholm, Hirtshals, Hvide Sande, Skagen and Thyborøn. However, waste collection will also take place in many other ports across Denmark.
In addition to the extensive practical task of collecting and subsequently handling waste from fishing gear, there are also a number of administrative obligations, including reporting to the authorities. Each company must report the quantity of fishing gear placed on the market in 2024 no later than 1 April 2025.
“As in the other PROs in the Retur family, we make our experience and knowledge of EPR available to member companies in Fiskeriretur. The same naturally applies to our international network,” says Morten Harboe-Jepsen, who looks forward to helping the fishing industry meet the requirements of EPR.
“Retur is Denmark’s largest family of Producer Responsibility Organisations, and we are pleased to be able to help another branch of Danish business. If we are to succeed in developing the circular economy into a real alternative to the use-and-dispose culture in our society, we need to do it at scale and, not least, together. We look forward to getting started on the concrete task of delivering on behalf of the members of Fiskeriretur,” says Morten Harboe-Jepsen.
The new EPR system for fishing gear containing plastic entered into force on 1 January 2025. EPR for fishing gear containing plastic is introduced as part of the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive, which aims, among other things, to reduce plastic pollution in the marine environment, promote responsible production and waste management, and create a financial incentive for reuse and recycling.
All types of fishing gear, including related equipment containing plastic, are covered by EPR.
Companies that place fishing gear containing plastic on the market are covered by EPR and have the practical, legal and financial responsibility for handling hundreds of tonnes of waste every year. This includes producers, importers, distributors and retailers, as well as companies that sell directly to professionals or private consumers.
Fiskeriretur is a non-profit Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) for handling EPR for fishing gear containing plastic, and its members represent the entire industry in Denmark.
Fiskeriretur is part of Retur, a family of currently five PROs: Elretur, Emballageretur, Batteriretur, Fiskeriretur and Tekstilretur. Together, they handle EPR for electronics, packaging, batteries, fishing gear and, in future, textiles.
As a member of one or more PROs under Retur, companies receive help to manage their EPR obligations in one place, as well as access to the combined knowledge, expertise and international network within the organisation.
Together, Retur forms a one-stop shop for EPR, and together we work to increase reuse and recycling. We do this to ensure that as many valuable resources as possible are lifted out of the waste stream and brought back into circulation – Retur to the future.
Read more about EPR for fishing gear containing plastic here.
Contact: Camilla Falkenberg, Head of Press and Communications at Retur, mobile: +45 43 14 08 94 or email: cf@retur.dk