International maritime insurer helps clean up the North East coastline
MARINE insurer Sunderland Marine is playing its part in helping to clean up the region’s coastline.
The 140-year-old insurer has donated funds to help launch a new project aimed at clearing up fishing line discarded along the shoreline in the North East.
The maritime insurance specialist, part of global marine insurer North P&I, is working with Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme (ANLRS) to position 12 recycling bins at location along the coast in the Sunderland area. Anglers and the general public can deposit any discarded fishing line or fishing debris found on local beaches, which could pose a threat to wildlife if left.
In 2021, the ANLRS started a similar project along the Sussex coast and it was quickly adopted by local beach cleans and sea swimming groups. In 12 months, over 1,000kg of commercial fishing debris and 200,000 metres of fishing line were recovered and recycled.
All the materials collected during the project will be recycled via ReFactory, a forward-thinking plastics recycling business, that deals with many of those plastics that are often assumed to be hard to recycle.
It is planned that the waste collected can be returned to the community in a useful format such as benches and recycling stations that will help protect the environment in Sunderland and the surrounding areas from which it originated.
Viv Shears, co-founder of the ANLRS, said: “Sunderland Marine has supported the ANLRS since its inception in 2018 and we were delighted when they approached us about this project, which focuses on an area close to its heart.
“It will be great to see how the project works in the Sunderland area and increase interest in the recycling of materials that often get sent to landfill or incineration.”
James Simison, Underwriter at Sunderland Marine, added: “Sunderland Marine is proud to have worked with Viv and the ANLRS for many years now, supporting their efforts across the UK.
“It’s fantastic to get the opportunity to bring the recycling bins to Sunderland and hopefully other locations in the North East as the project develops.”
The inaugural recycling bins have been adopted by Sunderland City Council and will be maintained and emptied by the City Council Environmental Services North team. They will be sited at prominent points at the Sunderland Yacht Club entrance, Roker Pier entrance and on the Seaburn Camp sign in the Little Italy area of the city.
Councillor Claire Rowntree, Deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council and Cabinet Member for Clean Green City, said: “Angling and sea fishing are popular activities across the city’s coast and waterways, and whilst the majority of Sunderland’s fishing community does dispose of fishing related waste responsibility, considerable fishing line does still find its way into open water or is washed up on our beaches, where it presents a real hazard to not just marine life, birds and other animals including pets, but even people as well.
“Sunderland City Council is proud to support initiatives that promote the responsible use of the city’s recreational destinations and tourist attractions, so it’s our hope that these new bins and the accompanying posters will serve as a valuable reminder to encourage people to dispose of their unwanted fishing line responsibly.”
The initiative has been warmly welcomed by the North East branch of global animal welfare charity Animals Asia. The charity runs campaigns on a number of marine wildlife issues, and holds community ‘Big Bear’ cleans.
Vijay Kritzinger, North East Animals Asia support group leader, said: “I am grateful to see the recycle bins going up in Sunderland. Our Animals Asia support group conducts regular community beach cleans in Sunderland and South Tyneside and we are pleased that the fishing line and commercial nets can now be properly deposited into recycle bins instead of ending up in landfill.
“As a volunteer for Pawz For Thought, North East Animals Asia and supporter of North East Animal Rights (NEAR), I have seen the danger that discarded litter can cause to wildlife and am pleased that measures are being taken to prevent further harm going forward.”
If any councils, local sea angling clubs or coastal-based volunteer groups in the North East would like to get involved, for example by sponsoring the purchase of additional recycling bins, please visit the ANLRS website at https://www.anglers-nlrs.co.uk/get-involved
ENDS
For more information contact Kate Gresswell at Cool Blue Brand Communications on kate.gresswell@coolblue.co.uk or 07817634559
Sunderland Marine
Sunderland Marine provides market-leading fixed premium marine insurance products: Aquaculture, Fishing, Coastal and other Specialist Vessels and Owners Fixed Premium.
Established in 1882, Sunderland Marine celebrated its 140th anniversary last year.
https://www.sunderlandmarine.com/
North P&I Club
North P&I Club is a leading global marine insurer with more than 160 years of history in the industry.
Founded and headquartered in Newcastle, North’s reach stretches around the world – with regional offices in Asia, Australasia, Europe and North America.
North is also part of the International Group; an association of 13 principal underwriting clubs insuring around 90% of the world’s ocean-going tonnage.
The group has 90+ claims specialists and the largest team of specialist in-house maritime lawyers.
As well as assisting with loss prevention, North also provides technical and operational expertise from master mariners and engineers with many years of seagoing experience.
The Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme
A volunteer lead, donation funded scheme that promotes and facilitates the UK recycling of angling related plastic waste such as fishing line and discarded tackle. The scheme has over 650 bins in tackle shops, fisheries and coastal locations across the UK and Europe.
Contact Viv Shears
Tel 07843 306661
Email anglersnlrs@gmail.com
Website www.anglers-nlrs.co.uk
North East Animals Asia
A volunteer support group of Animals Asia taking an active role in protecting local wildlife and the environment by engaging the community and public in beach cleans and litter picks in the Sunderland and other parts of the north east UK.
Contact Vijay Kritzinger
Tel 07528 580477
Email northeastanimasasia@gmail.com
Website www.animalsasia.org
Facebook @northeastanimalsasia