CIRCAZUL

Towards a Circularity of Inorganic Waste from the Fisheries Sector in the Context of Blue Growth - CIRCAZUL

Status

Description

CIRCAZUL integrates fishing organizations (ARVI, the fishermen's guild of Vigo, OPROMAR, FAAPE, FACOPE, Sanlúcar Guild), the AGAPA, the Public Ports Agency of Andalucía, ports of General Interest (Port of Vigo and Port of Marin) and regional ports (ports of Punta Umbria, Isla Cristina, Motril, Estepona) and 3 Knowledge Spaces (CETMAR, the Port Authority of Vigo and the University of Cadiz) of Galicia and Andalusia. A selection of best practices and systems will be demonstrated in pilot actions to be developed in these two regions with the involvement of all stakeholders (ports, fishing organizations, managers, etc).

Objectives

The general objective of the CIRCAZUL project is to prevent and combat marine pollution by capitalizing on existing information and knowledge, developing and demonstrating systems for the collection and recovery of waste (especially plastics) from the fishing sector, and promoting partnerships between the various sectors and stakeholders. These objectives are in line with the principles of the circular economy and the zero pollution objectives of the Green Pact.

The project contemplates the following Specific Objectives:

Extract and add value to the knowledge generated in previous projects regarding waste collection, management and valorization and facilitate access to them by generating a digital catalog of resources and a report of recommendations to facilitate the implementation of best practices, protocols, systems and technologies.

• Improve knowledge on waste from fishing and port activity and current management systems by carrying out a diagnosis in the ports of Galicia 4 (Vigo and Marin) and Andalusia (Ports of Ayamonte, Punta Umbria, Isla Cristina, Motril, Almeria and Estepona) on the basis of existing information and that generated during the project.
• Improve waste collection and management by defining proposals that establish the most appropriate routes for the different waste groups according to their characteristics and the best available management and recovery techniques, and by carrying out pilot actions to demonstrate them in the participating ports.
• Capitalize on the results of the project through awareness raising, dissemination and transfer actions and through the Network of Knowledge Spaces, especially through collaboration with the PLÁTICAS project.

Expected results

The main expected results of the project are:

• Significant increase in the impact and applicability potential of existing knowledge generated in previous projects.
• Strengthening of sectoral alliances in the fishing and port sector throughout the waste valorization chain.
• Improved knowledge of waste generation processes on board and in port, and typology and quantities of waste detected according to the characteristics of the different fleets, 
• Design of participative and consensual proposals for the collection and valorization of the different waste streams that reflect the diversity and specificities of the different fleets and ports and with potential for implementation in other geographical areas.
• Raising the awareness of all stakeholders and strengthening the role of the fishing sector in the protection of the seas and their resources. 

The results of the project will be applied and transferred to other regions through the Interterritorial Communication Platform for Knowledge Spaces on Blue Growth, as well as through specific communication actions that will facilitate the implementation of current legislation contributing to healthy marine ecosystems that allow the development of blue economy.

Contribution

• Innovative port: different waste valorization alternatives will be designed, which will promote innovation.
• Green port: through the implementation of the project, the aim is to improve the state of our seas. Significantly reducing marine pollution, through the collection of waste that is dumped into the sea.