Fishermen recycle junk into power, scrap metal

‘Fishing for Energy’ program started in Hawaii, now in New England

BOSTON – When fishing gear is lost off boats, it’s not really gone. In webs and rolling clumps, the nets, ropes and traps endure for decades as destructive artifacts of the fishery, suffocating life on the ocean floor, snaring fish and twisting into propellers.

But this “derelict gear” might actually be able to do some good. A program introduced in New England this year aims to clean the ocean by collecting everything from nylon nets to wooden lobster traps and burning it to generate electricity.

Fisherman Frank Mirarchi of Scituate says he spends hours untangling discarded gear from his nets. It can be dangerous if heavy pieces snap free of the net.

Getting it out of the ocean is essential, he said. Turning it into electricity is a bonus.

MSNBC