Fishing for Litter: Listening to the voices of Lesvos fishers

"Fishing for Litter" is an opportunity for meaningful dialogue with the people who know the sea better than anyone!

Recently, we met with the bottom trawler fishers of Lesvos who participate in the project for meaningful discussions and valuable feedback on its progress and ways to improve it, while also exchanging views on the challenges currently facing the fishing sector.

Our ambassadors on the island are among the project’s longest-serving participants, and their contribution to the long-term monitoring and removal of benthic litter is especially significant.

Through their daily presence at sea, they provide us with invaluable observations. As they explained, participating in the project has encouraged them to pay closer attention to marine litter, identify its potential sources, and better understand how litter related to fishing activities can be reduced. At the same time, they emphasized that marine litter is influenced by a wide range of human activities, including urban development and industrial operations, both in Greece and across the coast in Turkiye.

The participants also noted that the program has helped them better distinguish which types of litter originate from fishing activities and which come from other sources. In addition, they have observed that plastic waste found in the area may also be linked to activities taking place in nearby regions of Turkiye.

Several of our ambassadors in Lesvos also shared that their involvement in the project inspired them to learn more about responsible fishing practices and encouraged them to participate in additional iSea initiatives aimed at protecting vulnerable marine species.

At the same time, they all agree that the future of fisheries is at a turning point, even on an island like Lesvos, where fishing has long been an integral part of coastal communities. Environmental pressures, such as marine pollution, combined with everyday challenges including rising operational costs, crew shortages, and limited opportunities for fishers to engage with decision-making authorities, are all contributing to a growing sense of uncertainty that discourages younger generations from entering the sector and leaves experienced fishers feeling increasingly marginalized.

Learn more about the project here: https://isea.com.gr/project/fishing-for-litter/