Plastic Hunt will make the fisherman and the fish happy!

18 June 2012 / GÜRHAN savgi

The ‘Happy Fish Project’, which envisages fishermen to provide additional income by cleaning the sea during the fishing ban period, started in Büyükada.

It is a common Darb-ı issue among fishermen; Balk said, “let him hold me, let him feed me, let him Trade Me Be as much as a pulum."The Turkish foot of the project, which will invalidate the saying that draws attention to an economic reality, was put into effect in Istanbul Büyükada. The name of the project, which was introduced to the World Environment Day, is “happy fish”. Fishermen gathered plastic and other waste from the sea surface for the first time with a special tool they put on their engines. Within the framework of the project, during the ban period, fishermen will have the opportunity of additional income. After being thrown into the sea, the plastic that sinks into the bottom is broken into micro particles and enters the marine life. People with the food chain...

The idea of this project is the mother of Anna Rosbach, the Parliamentarian of the European Parliament. Rosbach, who is known for his environmental sensitivity in the public opinion, one day saw an island of waste floating in the Atlantic Ocean. In the mind of the legislature, the idea of fishermen earning additional income while collecting these waste was shaped. Rosbach told me that his colleagues he shared his idea made fun of him. However, with the support of the EU maritime and Fisheries Commission President Maria Damanaki, the project has come to life. The Waste Free Ocean organization was established. The decision has been made to pay the fishermen to collect waste from the EU Fisheries and Maritime fund. He also participated in the project ‘polluters’. European Association of plastic processors (EuPC) has started to support the movement.

The project is International because it is one of the supporters of the opening ceremony of the Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TÜDAV) President Prof. Dr. Bayram Öztürk, “53 percent of the waste in the Turkish sea comes from foreign countries.” he says.

The opening ceremony of the “happy Fishes” project began with the pier movement of the boat which connects the special network developed by the French fisherman Thomaseau. This network was designed to not harm fish when cleaning sea-surface waste. Thomazeau pre-event training in the use of the network gave the Turkish fishermen. Accompanying a group of fishermen, the “Happy Fish” Boat was brought to the beach where the wastes were collected off the coast. It was loaded into the garbage container with a crane to be sent back to recycling.

During the opening ceremony speeches, polemic about the Prohibition of plastic bags and the limitation of the amount of money.

Prof. Dr. Bayram Öztürk wanted to ban plastic bags completely. Turkish Plastic Industry Research, Development and Education Foundation (pagev) Chairman Mehmet Uysal, emphasized that prohibition would not be an accurate decision. Plastic bags will be used instead of the textile bags will be more than carbon footprints stressing Uysal, the important thing is to adjust the amount of use, he said. Uysal drew attention to the City Hall of the islands and drew attention to the fact that the building was completely covered with plastic.

Adalar Mayor Mustafa farsiboğlu also said that the use of plastic bags was banned by the decision of the Municipal Assembly unanimously. We went to Büyükada Bazaar to observe how much this ban was adopted. The citizens who were shopping here were walking around with plastic bags they received without paying any price like anywhere else in Turkey. Even the big supermarket chains kept giving plastic bags like they didn't know about the ban. There was also no diaper or paper bag alternative.

Büyükada did not hold a plastic ban, but if the Ministry of Environment and Urbanism supports the Happy Fish Project gives hope. Muhammet Balta, Deputy Minister of Environment and Urbanism, who attended the opening ceremony, conquered the hearts with his warm character. The AXA, who declared her elder brother Anna Rosbach as a member of Parliament, demanded support for Turkey. We asked for support for the Happy Fish project, the ax approached this issue with the ‘bureaucratic cold’: “let's see, let's see, if it's useful, we'll give support.”

By the way, pagev 1. Yavuz Eroğlu, Deputy Chairman of Turkey, Middle East and Africa was declared the president of the Waste Free Ocans. ” Happy fishes “chairman of the committee, Eroğlu, " in the period of the ban on hunting, fishermen are paid a daily fee for clearing various waste from the sea surface of the EU fisheries and Maritime Fund. Unfortunately, since Turkey is not a member of the Union, it is not possible to benefit from this fund. Therefore, in order to ensure sustainability of the project, we expect contribution and support from our government, especially our Ministry of Environment and Urbanism.” he says.