Le Drezen develops biodegradable fishing net to reduce marine pollution

The Breton company Le Drezen has developed a prototype for the first fishing net made from bio-sourced and biodegradable materials designed to dissolve in the sea within 10 years rather than 200. This innovation aims to combat marine plastic pollution, specifically the issue of “ghost nets” that trap marine life for decades.

Developed through three years of research in collaboration with Ifremer and the Université de Bretagne Sud, the material was selected from 40 different laboratory formulations. The final material is primarily bio-sourced, non-toxic, and has successfully passed mechanical, thermal, and abrasion tests. The prototype is scheduled for a one-year real-world trial aboard the vessel Manathia.