The Duchy of Cornwall has set up large recycling bins around the islands for unwanted fishing nets, ropes and lines to be collected and recycled by social enterprise Waterhaul. The organisation takes the gear and transforms what would become waste into valuable new products including sunglasses and litter-pickers. 

Abandoned fishing gear, often referred to as "ghost gear", poses a serious threat to marine life when allowed to enter the marine environment. In the ocean it can entangle marine mammals, fish and seabirds, leading to injuries or even death. The term refers to its ability to continue trapping and endangering marine life, even long after being discarded.  

Given the serious impact of ghost gear on local wildlife, this new recycling initiative aims to tackle the issue while offering a creative solution to the problem. The project has received strong support from local fishermen including Bryher local Shamus Pender Frazer, who praised the initiative for its environmental benefits.  

"We believe we have a responsibility as fishermen to look after and maintain the marine environment and to minimise, to the best of our ability, any negative impact we may inadvertently have on the ocean," Shamus told BBC News.  

The first batch of discarded fishing gear is expected to be shipped off the islands by end of the month. Once collected, the materials will be processed by Waterhaul, which has already recycled over 27,000 kilograms of fishing gear.  

By collecting and recycling ghost gear, the initiative not only reduces the harm to marine life but also keep valuable materials in circulation, avoiding the need for virgin resource extraction It provides a creative way to reuse materials that would otherwise remain a danger in the ocean, helping to safeguard wildlife and preserve the marine ecosystem.  

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