This innovative initiative, led by the Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS), University of Chittagong, addresses Abandoned, Lost, or Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) – a significant yet often overlooked source of marine plastic pollution. By adopting a community-driven approach, the program aims to empower local fishers and other stakeholders in coastal communities to actively tackle ghost gear pollution, fostering long-term environmental and community benefits.
IMS has conducted targeted awareness campaigns, robust stakeholder engagement, structured training sessions, workshops, and focus group discussions to build community capacity in understanding, identifying, and mitigating ALDFG-related hazards. This not only encourages behavioral change towards more responsible fishing but also nurtures a collective sense of responsibility for marine conservation. As a socially oriented innovation, it also explored the long-term sustainability of ALDFG removal by assessing its potential as a viable business model. This dual focus positions the initiative as both an effective environmental solution and a scalable community empowerment tool, offering a replicable model for other coastal regions facing similar challenges of marine plastic pollution from fishing gear.
In Kattoli, Chattogram, 45-year-old Dashami Das now weaves discarded fishing nets into colorful baskets. Just months ago, she could never have imagined that the same gear polluting her village coast would become the foundation of her livelihood.
For years, Dashami’s family survived on the modest earnings of her husband, fisherman Krisnapad Das, who brought home BDT 400–500 a day. With three daughters and a son to raise, the income was rarely enough. Like many women in her community, Dashami longed to contribute, but opportunities for housewives were scarce.
Everything changed when she joined a training organized by IMS on turning ALDFG into handicrafts. There, she learned to clean and process old nets and ropes, cut and weave them into new shapes, and stitch them into practical items. The sessions also introduced her to design, marketing, and customer preferences.
Eager to put her new skills to use, Dashami began experimenting at home. Piece by piece, she transformed waste into shopping bags, mats, baskets, and decorative items. Her family and neighbors were astonished. At the local market, people were drawn to the uniqueness of her creations.
Now, Dashami earns an extra BDT 200–500 each week. Though modest, the income eases her family’s financial burden—and gives her something greater: independence and pride. “I never thought I could earn from something people throw away,” she said with a smile.
Her journey has inspired others. Women in her community now approach her to learn the craft, curious to try it themselves. What started with one woman’s determination is growing into a quiet movement—turning waste into opportunity, and showing how women can lead in protecting the environment while supporting their families.
Dashami’s story is not just about earning money. It is about resilience, creativity, and empowerment. By breathing new life into discarded fishing gear, she is reducing marine waste, uplifting her community, and proving that even the most overlooked materials can carry the seeds of a brighter future.
