Issue 8 -Piloting results from Kenya
Biodegradable ropes in seaweed farming
Seaweed farming in Kenya is a growing industry with the potential to boost local economies, food security, and environmental health. However, the use of synthetic ropes in seaweed farming may be hazardous to the environment and a major source of microplastic pollution. In an attempt to mitigate potential environmental impacts, the Kenyan Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), in partnership with the Kubuyuni seaweed farmers, has piloted the use of biodegradable ropes for seaweed farming. The piloting, which started in August 2023, has been monitored over four growing cycles. Scientists compared the biomass production of the biodegradable ropes to the traditional synthetic ropes and also recorded the loss of seed and invasion of any foreign species.
The piloting of biodegradable ropes for seaweed farming demonstrated no significant difference in the loss of seeds or biomass produced compared to traditional synthetic ropes.
Biodegradable ropes in gill nets
Gill nets are the most commonly used nets by small-scale fisheries in Kenya, underpinning livelihoods and contributing to food security, Gill nets however are known for causing an unbelievable amount of damage and are also the net that is most likely to be lost at sea. Despite their frequent use, Kenya has prohibited the use of monofilament gill net. Together with the FAO, Kenya has also introduced a modified design of the gill net that replaces the synthetic twine that hangs up the multifilament net to the headline with twisted cotton. The design of the nets allows for the cotton to biodegrade and the nets to collapse should the nets be lost, thus preventing ghost fishing.
KMFRI, together with the Mikindani BMU, has replaced the headline and leadlines in these modified gill nets with biodegradable ropes and piloted for fishing efficiency. The fishing experiments were carried out for seven days in February 2024. Data on the type of fish, weight, and size of the fish was measured during the process.
The piloting of biodegradable gill nets demonstrated no significant difference in the type of species of fish caught, the size of fish caught, or the amount of fish caught compared to traditional synthetic nets.
The fishermen and farmers in the two pilots will continue to fish and farm, using the biodegradable ropes and nets until they are no longer functional, to measure the longevity of the biodegradable material. The ocean piloting of the biodegradable ropes is done parallel to laboratory biodegradability testing of the material by SINTEF, Norway, to measure the lifespan and rate of biodegradation.
