Bans on single-use plastics will surely prove to be important for protecting our oceans from further pollution, but the reality is there’s still a huge need to remove the plastic that currently sits in our waterways if we want to save oceans from further damage. This means everyone will have to help out, even the most unlikely of candidates. In Greece, fishermen who found plastic debris in their fishing nets would typically toss the waste back into the sea. Now, these fishermen have become protectors of the sea thanks to a new scheme that pays Greek fishermen €200 a month to recycle waste found in nets rather than dump it in polluted waters. The project started with 10 boats last May, but now scores have signed up with plans afoot to bring in about 100 fishing vessels by 2020. Last year’s two-and-a-half month pilot program led to the collection of 5,000 kilos of waste. The hope is that with 100 boats, the Greek fishermen can clear up 10 tons of garbage a month.
New scheme pays Greek fishermen to clean up plastic debris from the sea
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