Waste reduction and management in fishing ports to promote sustainable fisheries

Marine litter and plastic pollution are a global issue threatening marine ecosystems. Fisheries, fishing ports and seafood supply chains can be a source of the litter directly or indirectly released into the sea, but they are also a central part of the solution: for example, they can substitially contribute to reducing pollution by ‘Fishing for Litter’ or adopting more sustainable management practices. This session aims to bring together governmental, academic and private stakeholders, including fishery representatives and ports, to discuss open problems related to sustainable marine litter management as well as the pros and cons of different solutions. Talks will showcase best practice examples, such as the Interreg Italy-Croatia project FishNoWaste (2024-26) focusing on waste management in Adriatic fishing ports, explore current regulations, and describe the sustainability of supply chains in a circular economy perspective, with a final round table.

Session Chair

Alberto Barausse, University of Padova

Programme

10.30-10.40 Introduction by the Chair

10.40-10.50 Speech by managing autorithy Italy-Croatian Programme, Silvia Comiati (TBC)

10.50-11.00 Speech by Anna Montini, Blue Economy Councillor of Rimini Municipality

11.00-11.10 Speech by Hon. Elisabetta Gualmini, Industry, Research and Energy Committee of the European Parliament

11.10-11.20 The FishNoWaste project presentation
Tommaso Musner, University di Padua

11.20-11.30 The EU Mission "Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030"

11.30-11.40 The "BlueMissionMed" project
Fedra Francocci, National Research Center (TBC)

11.40-11.50 Regulatory analyzes regarding Marine Litter
Representative of Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (TBD)

11.50-12.40 International case studies and best practices

Interventions:
Tomaso Fortibuoni, ISPRA (IT)
Pero Tutman, Tribunj (HR)
Mediterranean Cleanup powered by Enaleia, Lefteris Arapakis

The role of the private sector in reducing plastic pollution
Luca Barani, Sea the Change (IT)

12.40-13.15 Supply chains of litter and of seafood: issues and potential
Round table on waste management in fishing ports

Representatives of the fishing ports of Chioggia, Rimini, Porto Garibaldi, Mazara, Split, Tribunj

Discussion and closure by the Chairman