Mexico
More than 640,000 metric tons of ghost fishing gear enter our oceans each year, making up 10 per cent of all plastic waste in the marine environment. At the same time, nylon manufacturers such as Aquafil and others have developed technology that can transform ghost fishing gear into regenerated nylon (e.g. Econyl). We propose to establish a nation-wide ghost gear retrieval program in Mexico funded with the proceeds generated from the sale of the retrieved derelict fishing gear to plastic recycling companies. To achieve this, we will establish a hybrid non-profit / social enterprise to implement the ghost fishing gear retrieval projects and sale of ghost fishing gear and other waste materials. Our long-term goal is to scale up this project to other plastic products and ultimately establish a processing facility to transform marine waste plastics in Mexico.