In a groundbreaking action to combat marine pollution, the Pacific Community (SPC) announces the inaugural deployment of recycled buoys from drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (dFADs) in their region, starting with the waters of New Caledonia. This marks a crucial stride towards sustainable ocean resource management. This initiative has been possible thanks to Project ReCon, a collaborative circular economy scheme created by tech company Satlink in 2022.
Since 2019, SPC has been assisting national data collection programmes on stranded dFADs in the Pacific Ocean, collaborating with stakeholders such as fisheries departments, NGOs and local community groups. "This project allows the region to monitor the number of dFADs lost and abandoned by industrial fishers and their environmental impacts while raising awareness and involving local communities”, stated Dr Lauriane Escalle, Senior Fisheries Scientist in charge of the programme.
The regular discovery of buoys lost by industrial purse seine fishers on the shores of New Caledonia and other Pacific islands countries and territories, as well as the recent deployment of satellite buoys on anchored Fish Aggregating Devices (aFADs) to support coastal fishers, has created the perfect scenario for re-purposing the found buoys for use on those nearshore aFADs, turning what would-be-waste into a resource.
“This initiative highlights our commitment to supporting sustainable ocean resource management within the region. Reconditioning and recycling buoys for local use contributes to a circular economy and mitigates the environmental impact of stranded FADs in the Pacific,” noted Dr Graham Pilling, SPC’s Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems division Deputy Director and Head of the Oceanic Fisheries Programme.
Kathryn Gavira, Satlink’s Head of Science and Sustainability, acknowledges, "Satlink is proud to count on SPC as a local partner for Project ReCon. We are committed to working together with the fleets to reduce the environmental impacts of their activities, in this case through the reconditioning or recycling of satellite buoys recovered on shore. Together, we are working towards a more sustainable future for the Pacific Ocean."
To be able to recondition the buoys, Satlink has garnered support from more than 20 companies that agree to transfer the buoy to a local partner for reuse. Then an evaluation is carried out by Satlink, SPC and other partners to determine the suitability of a recovered buoy for re-use.
This historic first deployment of recycled buoys on aFADs in the Pacific is a significant milestone, with plans to extend the initiative to the Cook Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia in the coming months.
About Project ReCon:
Satlink’s Project ReCon is a global collaborative circular economy initiative to reduce marine pollution from industrial fishing. It focuses on the reconditioning or recycling of buoys from dFADs found stranded on the shore of Pacific countries and territories. Through partnerships with purse seine companies, regional organizations like SPC, fisheries departments, NGOs and local communities, Project ReCon strives to mitigate the environmental impact of stranded buoys and create a circular economy for the benefit of Pacific ecosystems and communities.
Media contacts:
Toky Rasoloarimanana, Communications Officer, Pacific Community (SPC), Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems Division | [email protected] or Whatsapp: +230 57 43 36 61
Camila Pan de Soraluce, Head of Communications, Satlink | [email protected]
