University of Plymouth

The University of Plymouth School of Engineerging and more particularly the teams of Marine, Mechanical and Composites Engineering (MAST – MAterials and STructures Research Group) will take in charge the research for the INdiGO project. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is an internationally recognised essential technique to demonstrate that any action is not imposing undue environmental impacts on the planet. A full, open and transparent LCA can permit research or commercial organisations to demonstrate their ecological interest, and inform of the stage in the life cycle where the impacts are the strongest to allow changes to reduce these impacts.

UoP will develop techniques and methodologies that could apply to innovative fishing gear project using eight environmental impact factors (Work Package n°3): global warming, ocean acidification, eutrophication, ecotoxicological impact…. The university’s role will be precisely to develop new end-of-life criteria regarding the different possibility for a fishing gear: recycling, if the net is lost at sea… In the end, the results of this research will scientifically prove that the new fishing gear meets the expectations of the specifications of the Program by achieving a Good ecological status of water.

Contact:
Drake Circus
PL4 811
Plymouth – UK
www.plymouth.ac.uk/