Eunomia worked with Poseidon Aquatic Resource Management Europe to deliver this study of the market for fishing gear containing plastic in Ireland and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) models for it that comply with the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD). It was conducted on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Climate, and Communications in the Republic of Ireland.
Fishing gear – along with the 10 single-use plastic items most commonly found on European beaches – makes up 70% of all marine litter in the EU. It poses serious risks to marine ecosystems, biodiversity, human health, and economic activities such as fishing, tourism, and shipping. For these reasons, the Directive includes measures governing its management as waste.
Under both Irish and EU law, from 2025, producers of this equipment will have to participate in an EPR scheme that operates according to legislated parameters. The project team worked with government and industry stakeholders to conduct market analysis on the quantities and types of gear on the Irish market, and their end-of-life treatment, and to assess potential EPR models for it.
The study identifies a suitable EPR model and design elements for fishing gear that contains plastic (including aquaculture gear) in Ireland, considering the sector context in the country and key design features from EPR in other jurisdictions. It assesses the economic, environmental, and social impacts of the proposed model and provides a roadmap for implementation over three phases, with a carefully timed sequence so that measures build on one another and do not excessively burden producers.
