A recent report from the Tamil Nadu government shows that discarded fishing nets and other marine waste are accumulating along the State’s coastline, and while authorities have announced plans for collection centres, recycling facilities for converting these nets into reusable materials have yet to be fully established.
The report titled ‘Marine Litter on Tamil Nadu Coast, India: Status, Impacts, and Management Strategies’, shows fishing-related debris such as abandoned or lost nets, ropes, and floats makes up nearly half of the litter found on surveyed beaches. Along a 1,040-metre stretch of coastline covering 52 villages in 13 districts, more than 6,100 items of debris weighing 201 kg were recorded.
While abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear made up nearly half the litter by both number and weight, plastic waste, including wrappers, bottles, and cigarette butts, made up almost 40% by weight. Areas with intensive fishing, like Pudukottai and Villupuram, recorded the highest concentrations, highlighting the link between fishing activity and marine litter.
The report also notes debris levels are influenced by factors such as proximity to river mouths, seasonal changes, and the absence of effective waste management systems.
Discarded fishing gear, in particular, poses a significant threat to marine wildlife, as animals can become entangled in nets and ropes, leading to injury or death. Plastics, which break down into microplastics over time, can enter the food chain, affecting marine life, and potentially humans as well.
To address the problem, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has launched the Tamil Nadu Fishnet Initiative Project, which aims to set up fishnet collection centres across the coastline.
The first centre at Kasimedu, inaugurated in August 2024, has seen success in collecting discarded nets, and the project is now expanding to all 14 coastal districts under the TN-SHORE (Tamil Nadu State Coastal Habitat and Resources Environment Management) project, partially funded by the World Bank.
Environment and Forests Secretary Supriya Sahu acknowledged the gap in recycling capacity and said that once fishnet collection centres are set up in all 14 districts as planned, they will be linked to a recycling centre in the same district. She added there are also plans to strengthen recycling centres.