Africa-Press – Seychelles. Local firm Brikole Pty Ltd, a new circular business that deals in re-exporting exhausted and discarded fishing nets, buoys and ropes by tuna fishing vessels, yesterday shipped their first batch of these nets abroad to be recycled.
The shipment, which was packed at the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) Net Yard Zone 14 at Ile Du Port, is now on its way to Europe where it will be received by a traceable net recycling company.
The shipping of the exhausted fishing nets and other fishing gear is the product of agreements signed between Brikole Pty Ltd and ORTHONGEL and OPAGAC (Frozen Tuna Companies) where the nets will first be shipped to traceable net recycling companies and in the long-term such a recycling company is expected to be established here locally.
In total, about 50 tonnes of discarded nets, ropes and buoys that had been stored on the net yard were packed for shipment. Some of these materials had been lying on site for several years after they had been discarded. The shipment is expected to reach its destination within 45 days.
Brikole was the result of the ReNet Project which is managed by Sustainability for Seychelles. The founders of Brikole are Kyle De Bouter, Rosetta Alcindor and Francesca Adrienne. After the signing of the memoranda of understanding (MoU) between Brikole and two foreign producers of frozen tuna, the first phase of their agreement was the clearing of the net repair yard. These two companies will be providing the ships to carry the nets to their destination.
Mr De Bouter said that the aim of the project is to create a circular economy so that Seychelles can someday provide its own resources and benefit from these as well.
“The goal is to set up a local recycling plant. We want to keep it in Seychelles. We want to create jobs. We want to do something meaningful with it, instead of just taking it away,” he noted.
He went on to explain that the second phase of the project is to establish the local recycling facility.
Brikole plans to rent a plot of land near the net yard in a few years’ time where they will construct a larger recycling facility with equipment and a greater number of trained staff who will allow for a larger amount of materials to be processed.
“There are multiple ways of recycling. Mechanical recycling is one of them. Where we shred the nets, put them in a machine and get little plastic pellets.”
Mr De Bouter highlighted that the plastic pellets are a semi-finished product which can then be used to make other plastic objects. He added that they are working in collaboration with multiple recycling companies and will send them shipments in the near future to identify which is the most suitable for their objective, as each company produces different output products from the recycled materials.
Ms Alcindor is encouraging anyone who is able to, to contribute toward this project that will help Seychelles develop sustainably.
“If you are interested in coming up with solutions or if you know any recyclers or if there is a particular service that they can provide, come forward!” she advised.
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