What happens to fishing gear when it reaches the end of its working life? For most of the UK fishing industry, the answer has historically been: landfill, incineration, or worse — back into the sea. But Odyssey Innovation founder Rob Thompson has spent years proving that end-of-life fishing gear isn't waste at all. It's a resource.
"The original idea was to prove that waste plastic had value and can again be turned into another product and reused. I wanted people to see it in context."
— Rob Thompson, Founder & MD, Odyssey Innovation — as told to Cornwall Live
The Real Cost of End-of-Life Fishing Gear
When fishing nets, ropes, and gear reach the end of their useful life, the costs of disposal fall squarely on the fishing community. Landfill charges, storage costs, and the risk of gear blowing back into the sea all add up — creating a financial burden on an already pressured industry. Many fishermen resort to burning gear or fly-tipping simply because there is no affordable alternative.
The environmental cost is even higher. Plastic fishing gear that enters the marine environment can persist for up to 450 years, entangling wildlife and breaking down into microplastics that enter the food chain.
The Net Regeneration Scheme: Turning Cost into Value
Odyssey Innovation's Net Regeneration Scheme flips this equation. By offering free collection and recycling of end-of-life fishing gear from harbours across the UK, the scheme removes the financial burden from fishermen while ensuring the plastic is properly processed and given a second life.
That recycled plastic becomes the raw material for products like our recycled marine plastic handplane and the Hönö bodyboard — demonstrating that marine plastic waste has genuine commercial value when handled correctly.
👉 Find out how to join the Net Regeneration Scheme or get in touch to bring free fishing gear recycling to your harbour.