Improving Fishing Gear Waste Management Practices on board fishing vessels operating in the Arctic: Workshop

27-28 January 2026 - Marine and Freshwater Research Institute in Iceland

Final Agenda (23 January)

List of Registrations (23 January 2026)

About the workshop

With 40 participants attending in Iceland and several joining online, the workshop advanced critical discussions on marine litter deriving from fishing vessels. The diverse group included policy-makers, fishing industry leaders—including vessel captains—and researchers. The program featured an interactive session on vessel amendments, a visit to a vessel in the port, and a tour of Hampiðjan, a leading fishing net manufacturer.

Context and Progress

Over the last decade, important progress has been made by the fishing industry, governments, and NGOs to address Abandoned, Lost, or Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG). Despite these efforts, recent surveys indicate that net and rope cutting waste from bottom trawl vessels remain a primary source of beach litter.

Objectives and Outcomes

This two-day workshop brought together fisheries representatives, policymakers, researchers, and NGOs to identify practical ways to capitalize on ongoing efforts. The focus remained on improving waste management practices on board vessels operating in Arctic waters, with particular attention to bottom-trawl fisheries.

By fostering dialogue, the workshop achieved several key goals:

Strengthened understanding of onboard waste practices and operational challenges.
Identified knowledge gaps and practical, regionally relevant solutions.
Encouraged networking through social gatherings, allowing for informal exchange between experts.

Broader Impact

While the workshop focused on the Arctic, the lessons learned are applicable to similar fisheries globally. The insights gathered will contribute to ongoing efforts within the Arctic Council, OSPAR, and the IMO, and have helped lay the groundwork for a Fishing Gear Management Plan tailored to vessels operating in Arctic waters.

The workshop was organized and hosted by Iceland, Norway, the Kingdom of Denmark, and the Netherlands in collaboration with Wageningen Social & Economic Research, the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries; the Norwegian Environment Agency; the Icelandic Environment and Energy Agency; the Icelandic Directorate of Fisheries; the Danish Environmental Protection Agency and Aarhus University.