Turning Waste into Worth: The Future of Fishing Gear Recycling

The dream of Net Zero has long been sold as a silver bullet, but in reality, it is an economy-killing pipedream. Governments pour billions into targets and timelines that do little to solve the real problems we face. Meanwhile, practical solutions like fishing gear recycling are already making a visible difference to the environment and to the communities that depend on healthy oceans.

One of the most promising examples is Ocean Kind, a South Australian business that has begun transforming end-of-life tuna ropes into clean, reusable polypropylene. Instead of these ropes being burnt or dumped in landfill, they are now recycled into high-grade material suitable for manufacturing. In their first stage, Ocean Kind has already processed 425 kilograms of fishing rope, proving that small-scale innovation can achieve large-scale benefits.

Fishing gear recycling is essential for landfill diversion. Pollution remains one of the most serious threats to our waterways, coastal ecosystems and seafood industries. Every metre of rope that is recycled is one less hazard in the ocean and one less piece of plastic buried underground. The next time fishers retire their ropes or nets, they should think of businesses like Ocean Kind and choose recycling over disposal. It is a simple act with lasting impact.

Ocean Kind’s approach shows what real environmental responsibility looks like. Rather than waiting for government mandates, they are creating a circular economy solution within the fishing industry itself. Their work supports South Australia’s goal of zero avoidable waste to landfill by 2030, but more importantly, it provides a model for other fisheries across the country to follow.

There is still a long way to go. Bait bags, soft plastic lures and packaging are major pollutants that continue to find their way into creeks and estuaries, breaking down into microplastics that harm marine life and contaminate our food chain. While the recreational sector continues to grow, it is vital that waste is managed responsibly. Recycling programs only work when everyone contributes.

Hopefully, Ocean Kind will continue to expand their ideas beyond rope recovery, exploring new methods for fishing gear recycling across the entire industry. If every operator took the time to sort, clean and return their old materials rather than sending them to landfill, the impact would be enormous. These small actions add up to real environmental progress, built on practical effort rather than political promises.

Recycling rope might not make the evening news, but it represents exactly the kind of steady, meaningful change Australia needs. While governments chase distant carbon goals, fishers and innovators like Ocean Kind are already proving that sustainable progress begins with responsibility, not rhetoric.