THE UK’s first ever crab line recycling scheme has launched in a South East Cornwall town that knows just a thing or two about crabbing – and the waste it can leave behind.

Tangled nylon that harms wildlife and discarded nets that wash back in with the tide should now be a thing of the past, as Looe launches its simple solution.

The Looe Marine Conservation Group (LMCG) has worked with local businesses as sponsors for recycling stations along the harbourside, where crabbing equipment can be deposited after use.

The stations, made from hand-crafted recycled wood, will be regularly emptied by volunteers who will sort through the contents and decide which can be reused and which to recycle – some of the materials will go to be upcycled into ocean kayaks.

Amelia Bridges, LMCG chairman, said: “We’re so happy to be installing the first prototypes of these hand-crafted stations and a sponsorship opportunity for businesses in the town to get involved.

“For years, we’ve racked our brains to identify a solution to this growing problem and hope this scheme, alongside our Crabbing Code of Conduct launched last year, goes some way towards that.

Reclaimed

“Discarded crab lines and nets pose very real threats to marine wildlife, particularly in terms of entanglement, and pose a problem for our inshore fishing fleet by fouling propellers, so anything we can do to stop that is really worthwhile.”

Carpenter Pete Spencer, from Josey Whales in Looe, has created the recycling stations.

“We’ve tried to ensure they are as environmentally friendly as possible, which is why we’ve chosen to make them from reclaimed scaffold board. It also gives the stations a really nice rustic look that fits in well in an old Cornish fishing town.”

Pengelly’s Fishmonger’s and the Banjo Beach Shop have sponsored the first two collection points.

Retail shops in Looe buy roughly 10% of all crab lines sold in the UK, says manager of the Banjo Beach Shop Sam Gill.

“For a while we’ve been working with locals and our suppliers to make crabbing more sustainable – creating and stocking biodegradable, all-natural crab lines for the same as a plastic one – and promoting proper disposal through signs,” he said.

“With this next step we feel pleased that we can help people enjoy Looe’s most popular pastime in the most environmentally-positive way possible.”

It’s hoped that more bins will be in place by next season. The aim of LMCG is to achieve a self-financing scheme that supports the continuation of crabbing as a very popular activity, involves the local business community and delivers a circular economy solution by reclaiming wooden materials and recycling plastic.

For more information on sponsorship or the scheme, please contact Amelia Bridges at [email protected].