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Fishing nets
Conserve India’s fishing net recycling pilot, conducted in collaboration with Interface Flor, explored the technical and economic feasibility of recovering Nylon 6/6 from discarded fishing nets along India’s coastline. Implemented across regions like Goa, Gujarat, and Daman & Diu, the initiative established a Self-Help Group for net collection and cleaning, transported 10,000 kg of nets for processing, and successfully exported cleaned material to Aquafil for recycling. By combining field research, decentralized infrastructure, and stakeholder engagement, the project demonstrated how marine plastic waste can be transformed into a viable raw material stream—supporting both ocean conservation and coastal livelihoods, and laying the foundation for a circular blue economy in India.
Funding organisation: Interface Flor
Nets to Value: Coastal Recycling Innovation for a Blue Circular Economy
What we did
In partnership with Interface Flor, Conserve India piloted a study to explore the potential for recycling discarded fishing nets—specifically Nylon 6/6—into high-value raw material for circular manufacturing. With extensive experience in plastic waste recycling and marine conservation, Conserve India implemented this initiative across coastal regions of Goa, Gujarat, Daman & Diu, and others, aiming to build a scalable, community-led model that supports both environmental goals and local livelihoods.
A Self-Help Group (SHG) was established in Goa to manage the collection, sorting, and washing of fishing nets. Additionally, 10,000 kg of nets were transported from Gujarat to Conserve’s Bahadurgarh unit in Delhi for further cleaning and analysis. Some of the cleaned nets were then exported to Aquafil for recycling.
Field visits and consultations were conducted in Goa, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Gir, Kutch, and Daman & Diu, engaging with fishing communities, SHGs, and local authorities to assess logistics, infrastructure gaps, and potential for long-term recovery systems.
Why It Matters
India’s coastline faces a growing crisis of marine plastic waste, with discarded fishing gear posing significant environmental threats. Yet, this waste stream also presents an untapped economic opportunity for fisherfolk and coastal communities. By recovering and recycling fishing nets, this initiative aimed to demonstrate a circular blue economy model—one that reduces ocean pollution while creating livelihoods for informal workers and strengthening India’s role in sustainable material innovation.
The project also provided a business case for Interface Flor, showing that the recovery of Nylon 6/6 from Indian coastal waste is not only feasible but financially viable under the right conditions.
Outcomes
- Recommendations for the government and private sector players on what can be done to improve collection and recycling of marine plastics
The Fishing Net Recycling pilot with Interface Flor proved that marine waste upcycling is both technically and economically viable—when rooted in community engagement, decentralized processing, and industry partnerships. It offers a replicable blueprint for India’s circular blue economy, demonstrating how plastic pollution can be transformed into sustainable livelihood opportunities and global supply chain solutions.
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