For many countries that stretch across the Mediterranean, the sea is synonymous with income as the entire economy of the region is based on it. But in recent years, fishermen's nets have stopped collecting fish as before for several reasons.
An Euronews.com article writes that rising sea temperatures and intensive fishing have put constant pressure on marine ecosystems, including macro and micro-plastic damage. The article points out that most of the pollution is caused by what are known as "ghost nets", lost fishing nets that have accumulated at the bottom of the Adriatic Sea.
Based on this phenomenon, Adrinet was created , an initiative that aims to protect marine ecosystems and end the damage of abandoned nets. Albania and Montenegro will participate in Adrinet, which is being coordinated by Italy. The project page states that the partners are, among others, the Agricultural University of Tirana and the Vlora Regional Council.
The total budget of the project is a little over 1 million euros, 85% of which will be financed by the European Union cohesion policy, an EU strategy to promote and support the overall development of the member states and those of the region . The rest will be divided between the three participating countries.
Thanks to a radio-frequency system, microchips can be placed in networks and found if lost. Elisabetta Bonerba, a project manager at Adrinet, told Euronews that "traceability makes it possible for fishermen to be responsible for their equipment. It also helps authorities find those responsible for any abandoned nets at sea".
Pietro Vicedomini, Commander-in-Chief of the Italian Coast Guard, said that if the calculations were made, "six tonnes of fishing nets are about 200,000 plastic bottles at sea".
