We are happy to announce that „Mapping and recycling of marine litter and ghost nets on the sea-floor – marGnet project“ (www.margnet.eu) funded through Sustainable Blue Economy Fund of the European Union’s Maritime Fisheries Fund (EASME/EMFF/2017/1.2.1.12/S2/05/SI2.789314), is organizing the online event
„From marine litter to marine fuel“
On Thursday, 10th of December 2020
from 10.30 – 12.00
The event is devoted to presenting the results and achievements of the marGnet project on finding solutions to tackle marine litter on the sea-floor generated by sea-based activities such as fisheries and aquaculture.
We consider this a unique opportunity to find out about our new achievements in monitoring, mapping, sustainable removing and recycling of marine litter from the sea-floor, so we strongly encourage you to participate.
The marGnet Team
D3082 | Woman Art Venice
NET | Mandy Barker & CNR – Institute of Marine Sciences, Venice
27th November 2020 – 28th February 2021
Venice, Domus Civica, San Polo 3082
A new exhibition at D3082: the Venetian “street gallery” presents NET | Mandy Barker & CNR – Institute of Marine Sciences, Venice.
A project of denunciation and a call for action against plastic pollution in the seas, through the photographs of Mandy Barker and the presentation of the innovative project coordinated by the CNR: a system to map, remove and recycle fishing nets abandoned or lost on the seabed
marGnet obilježava ‘World Clean Up Day’ u Veneciji
MARINE LITTER – MORSKI OTPAD U VENECIJI. PRAĆENJE, UKLANJANJE I KRUŽNO GOSPODARSTVO
3 i 4 listopada u Veneciji će se održati događaj u organizaciji Instituta za morske znanosti Nacionalnog istraživačkog vijeća (CNR-ISMAR) i neprofitne organizacije Venice Lagoon Plastic Free (VLPF), s ciljem podizanja svijesti građana, gospodarskih subjekata i lokalnih institucija o problematici sveprisutnog morskog otpada u gradskim kanalima i lagunama.
Događaj će se sastojati od konferencije koja će se održati u subotu 3. listopada s početkom u 15.30 sati u vrtu hotela Saturnia&International u Veneciji te od građanske inicijative čišćenja povijesnog središta Venecije, manjih otoka i lagune, uključujući kopno, tijekom dana 4. listopada.
Na konferenciji 3. listopada kao govornici će sudjelovati predstavnici javnih i privatnih znanstveno-istraživačkih institucija, udruga iz ribolovnog sektora te industrije, koje su na različite načine uključene u borbu protiv morskog otpada. Događaj će biti prilika za informiranje javnosti o količini i raznim vrstama otpada prisutnog u Veneciji na temelju istraživanja provedenog od strane CNR-ISMAR i praćenja i analize koje je provela neprofitna organizacija Venice Lagoon Plastic Free u suradnji s Tehničko-tehnološkim institutom Montani iz Ferma. Dovoljno prostora pružit će se i prezentaciji mogućih rješenja razvijenih u sklopu projekta marGnet, kojim koordinira CNR-ISMAR iz Venecije, a koja predviđaju upotrebu novih tehnologija za mapiranje i uklanjanje otpada te inovativni postupak proizvodnje brodskog goriva iz prikupljene plastike.
Akcija čišćenja, 4. listopada, provest će se u suradnji s brojnim institucijama i udrugama s venecijanskog područja kroz pripremu zona za intervenciju i mjesta okupljanja za sve koji žele sudjelovati. Akcija će biti usmjerena na široko prikupljanje morskog otpada s čitavog venecijanskog područja, s posebnim naglaskom na plutajući plastični otpad i otpad odbačen na rubovima kanala i slanih močvara. Prikupljeni otpad bit će uklonjen u skladu s Veritasovim pravilnikom, a dijelom će biti upotrijebljen u eksperimentalnom postrojenju za pirolizu pri niskim temperaturama tvrtke SINTOL u Torinu u svrhu njegove prerade i naknadne proizvodnje goriva u eksperimentalne svrhe.
Više informacija o načinu sudjelovanja dostupno je na priloženim plakatima.
Demonstracijski dan projekta marGnet za ronioce i ribare u Malom Lošinju, Hrvatska
U petak 25. rujna 2020. Institut Plavi svijet organizirao je u Malom Lošinju radionicu pod nazivom ‘Dan otvorenih vrata za ronioce i ribare’. Glavni povod ovome događanju bilo je predstavljanje prototipa uređaja za reciklažu morskog otpada i pretvorbu u bio-gorivo za pogon brodskih motora, nastalog kao rezultat projekta marGnet sufinanciranog sredstvima Europskog fonda za pomorstvo i ribarstvo te Vladinog ureda za udruge u sklopu programa Održiva plava ekonomija. U projektu je Institut Plavi svijet sudjelovao s još četiri partnerske organizacije iz Italije od kojih je jedna tvrtka Sintol iz Torina čiji su inžinjeri razvili spomenuti prototip te time zaokružili proces zbrinjavanja morskog otpada kao glavnog fokusa projekta marGnet. Jedna od projektnih aktivnosti je i primjena metode otkrivanja potonulog otpada i zaostalih ribolovnih alata na dnu pomoću višesnopnog akustičnog uređaja te na Lošinju trenutno borave i kolege znanstvenici iz partnerske organizacije Laguna Project iz Venecije kako bi spomenutu metodu testirali u našem podmorju. To je ujedno bila i prilika da dr.sc. Federico Riccato okupljenim roniocima održi predavanje o održivim načinima uklanjanja otpada s morskog dna. Kako zbog pandemije COVID-19 nije bilo moguće donijeti sam prototip iz Italije na Lošinj, sudionicima radionice predstavljen je putem video materijala i infografika.
Testiranje margnet protipa – izvrsni rezultati
Testiranje prototipa započeto je prema planu, s početkom 2020. Unatoč situaciji s virusom COVID-19 uspješno je provedeno s malim zakašnjenjem. Prikupljeni su reprezentativni uzorci morskog otpada iz venecijanske lagune kako bi se iz njih sintetiziralo gorivo za brodske motore za potrebe projektnih aktivnosti.
Inicijalni rezultati su vrlo obećavajući – prinos goriva je uvijek iznad 50 %, osim ako je glavna komponenta otpada najlon koji značajnno smanjuje kvalitetu i prinos dobivenog goriva.
Analiza proizvedenog goriva još je uvijek u tijeku, ali dobiveni rezultati ukazuju na dobru kvalitetu. Općenito, možemo utvrditi da prototip od morskog otpada kao sirovine proizvodi 3 vrste goriva – visoko kvalitetno lako gorivo koje se može efikasno koristiti kao sirovina za proizvodnju novih djevičanskih polimera, gorivo za pogon brodskih motora koje je glavni rezultat projekta marGnet i intermedijsko pogonsko gorivo za prekooceanske brodove (IFO). Aciditet proizvedeog goriva je vrlo nizak, što omogućava lako miješanje sa standardnim gorivima.
Rezultati preliminarne analize emisije plinova koji nastaju kao produkti gorenja ovog goriva su također vrlo pozitivni, budući da nije utvrđena prisutnost štetnih tvari. Time su potvrđene pretpostavke postavljene u fazi dizajniranja prototipa.
Daljim testiranjima planiramo utvrditi početne rezultate i prikupiti korisne informacije za unapređenje procesa u slučaju kada sirovina sadrži veliku količinu poliamida. Značajan broj uzorka biti će testiran u specijaliziranim laboratorijima kako bi se potvrdilo njihovo zadovoljavanje svih tehničkih standarda.
More kaže: „ Očistite plaže!“
U mjesecu svibnju smo u sklopu našeg marGnet projekta planirali organizirati akcije čišćenja obale i podmorja otoka Lošinja. S obzirom na situaciju s corona virusom, to nažalost nije bilo moguće. Iako su mnoge ljudske aktivnosti svedene na najmanju mjeru, priroda nije stala, a otpad je i dalje tu.
S obzirom da nije bilo moguće organizirati velike akcije čišćenja s puno sudionika, osmislili smo izazov pod nazivom – More kaže: ‘Očistite plaže!’. Putem društvenih mreža i lokalnih medija poslali smo poziv pojedincima – ‘Ukoliko se odlučite slobodno vrijeme provesti u prirodi s obitelji i/ili prijateljima, pozivamo vas da u šetnju uvalama i plažama ponesete sa sobom par rukavica i vreću za smeće i pokupite otpad na koji naiđete. U ekipi do 5 osoba, na siguran i odgovoran način možete prikupiti otpad i ponosno očistiti neku od plaža.’
Sudionike smo potaknuli da fotografiraju svoje akcije, situacije prije i poslije te prikupljeni otpad. Svi oni koji su nam poslali svoje fotografije i video zapise te s nama podijeliti dojmove i informacije o prikupljenom otpadu nagradili smo malim motivacijskim poklonom. Akciji se priključilo 20ak sudionika, a očišćeno je 6 lokacija duž obale otoka Lošinja.
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Znanstveni skup projekta ‘marGnet’ o problemu morskog otpada
Predstavnici Instituta Plavi svijet sudjelovali su 5. veljače u Veneciji na znanstvenom skupu aktivnosti projekta ‘marGnet’ o problemu morskog otpada. Pored prezentacije dosadašnjih rezultata projekta ‘marGnet’ cilj ovog skupa bila je razmjena iskustava i znanja o detekciji i kartiranju otpada na morskom dnu, razvoju modela predviđanja lokacije potonuća otpada te recikliranje plastičnog otpada iz mora. S obzirom na zadovoljstvo organizatora CNR-ISMAR te pozitivne reakcije 60-ak okupljenih znanstvenika i dionika, nadamo se kako će ovaj skup doprinijeti boljem shvaćanju problema otpada na morskom dnu i rezultirati nekim novim idejama i suradnjama s ciljem smanjenja negativnog utjecaja otpada na morski okoliš.
WORLD OCEANS DAY
On Saturday June 8th, the Institute of Marine Sciences (ISMAR-CNR) organized a public event at its headquarters in Venice, in collaboration with the Art Academy of Venice, the Venetian Research and Innovation District, Science Gallery Venice and with the Museum of Natural History, to celebrate the #WorldOceansDay2019. During the event, the exhibition “The Art of Marine Sciences – Oceans portrayed by artists and researchers”, born from the collaboration between some students of the Venice Academy of the Arts and some CNR researchers, was presented to the citizens. Starting from the analysis of some environmental issues, the artists have reworked the information in the light of their artistic sensibility, creating suggestive art-works that has been set up in the large atrium of the Institute of Marine Sciences. In the framework of this exhibition, an art-work related to the ghost net issue has been realized by two young and talented artists, Giulia Deganello and Erica Giacomazzi, who were supported from the scientific point of view by Nicoletta Nesto and Riccardo Fiorin from the marGnet team!
click to visit gallery
The first „marGnet“ local event – Clean up of the sea-floor and the coast at the island of Lošinj
On Saturday, 18th of May 2019 the Blue World Institute has organized clean up of the sea-floor and the coast at three bays at the island of Lošinj. This local event was organized for local community as a part of the activities of the „marGnet“ project co-financed by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and Croatian Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund in cooperation with local diving centre Sub Season and Mali Lošinj Tourist Board. Despite rainy weather, 18 divers participated with the support from 30 volunteers on the boats and on the coast plus additional 12 volunteers cleaning the adjacent beaches. In total, during the 3 hours of the action, 2t or 10 m3 of garbage was collected – car tires, glass bottles, fiber-glass pieces from the sinking boats, fenders, abandoned fishing pots and ropes, parts of the sunken pontoon. For all the participants we organized lunch and the presentations of the related topics – „Ecology of marine turtles and the threat of marine litter“ and „Underwater archeological sites at the Lošinj Archipelago“ with the visit to the Museum of Apoxyomenos.
The aims of this action were to improve status of marine environment in the intervention area by reducing the amount of marine litter (ML), increase public awareness on the problem of ML on the sea-floor and to promote healthy and sustainable living practices for protection of the marine environment by promoting the „marGnet“ initatives. Due to impressive results, good cooperation between our partners and great feedback from the participants, we are planning to continue with the organization of similar actions in the near future.
Pettition to change the Italian regulation on collecting marine litter from fishing boats
The „marGnet“ consortium supported the pettition of „Let the Fishermen Clean the Sea“ organized by a group of Italian environmental NGOs to promote changes to the Italian regulation on collecting marine litter from fishing boats. This initiative was the result of the „Clean Archipelago“ project initiated by the NGO Legambiente and Supermarket Chain Unicoop, Firenze. One of the aims of this project was to combat the problem of marine litter.
The pettition was started with the intention change current Italian legislation that encouraged Italian fishermen to discard any waste, that was accidentally caught in their nets, back in to the sea. This was because the regulation required fishermen to pay for the cost of disposal if they brought it back to the harbour. Thanks to this petition, the proposal of a new law called „Salva Mare“ which allows fishermen to bring back marine litter for disposal free of charge in the harbour, has passed to the Italian Council of Ministers.
Finally, Italian fishermen will now be able to bring the marine litter to the coast and leave it in ecological islands that will be set up in the harbours. According to the “Salva Mare”, fishermen can also get an environmental certificate and their catch will be labelled as environmentally friendly.
Public presentation of the „marGnet“ project at „Blue Day“ event at Maritime School in Bakar, Croatia
The Maritime School in Bakar invited representatives of the Blue World Institute to present the „marGnet“ project at the „Blue Day“ event organized on the 29th of March 2019. This traditional event was organized by the oldest Nautical School in Croatia and has for the last 13 years aimed at increasing public awareness for the need to protect the marine environment. The main topic of this year’s event was „A Drop of the Sea“ referring to the Sea as a source of Life but also, underlining increasing problem of plastic pollution. Hence, the main focus of the presentations for 150 participants of the event was microplastics and problem of plastic pollution of the sea in general. The „marGnet“ project was presented as an „Inovative model for the solution of marine litter – EU project marGnet“. For us it was a great opportunity to interact with future generations of seamen.
Representatives of all partner’s organizations participated in January in Venice at the Kick off Meeting of the „marGnet“ project (EASME / EMFF / 2017 / 1.2.1.12 / S2 / 05 / SI2.789314) funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund as part of the “Sustainable Blue Economy ” call. At the meeting, technical and methodological characteristics of the project activities were presented and numerous details of project implementation were agreed.
The objectives of the project are primarily to find innovative solutions for dealing with marine litter problems. The focus is on marine litter that is characterized as abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear and other waste generated at the sea floor as a result of various activities such as fishing and aquaculture. As part of the project, selected area of the sea floor will be mapped at the Venetian lagoon and in the Cres-Losinj archipelago by mean of combined multi-sensor high resolution acoustic methodes. In order to determine hotspots of marine litter on the sea floor on a wide scale predictive model, able to stimulate dispersion of the sinking marine litter will be developed.
Marine litter collected during various project activities such as measurements and mapping, as well as promotional dive clean up actions will be collected and the plastic parts will be recycled in an innovative manner in biodiesel fuel for the vessels. We expect the recycling process of the collected fishing nets and other marine plastic litter to be displayed and promoted to the general public during the Demonstration days that will be organized in Venice and Mali Losinj next year. We hope that the foreseen goals will be met and that some of the above-mentioned innovative technologies and solutions will one day find wider application in practice.