Recycling Fishing Gear 

Part 2: Odyssey Innovation - Helping Fishermen to be Custodians of the Sea

In part two of this bumper marine plastics episode, we catch up with marine conservationist, campaigner and innovator, Rob Thompson, Founder of Odyssey Innovation. Odyssey began as a passionate group of volunteers, and is now pioneering a circular economy approach in Newquay and beyond by recycling marine litter. 

‘I loved the idea of treating waste as a resource,’ says Rob, who has helped to transform old fishing gear into kayaks - yes, kayaks! Through collaborating with local organisations and charities such as Fishing for Litter and Exeter City Council, Odyssey has helped to remove the barriers to fishermen recycling end-of-life gear, by providing free recycling facilities in fishing ports. 

In this upbeat and insightful conversation, we also explore the challenges to plastic recycling - from high costs and funding availability to scalability and behaviour-change. 

Odyssey Innovation