Join a cross-country knowledge-sharing webinar
20 January 2026
09:00-12:30 CET
Recreational fishing is a popular activity across the Baltic Sea countries, bringing positive health, social and economic benefits to coastal communities. Although most recreational fishers care deeply about the sea, a significant amount of recreational fishing gear is lost at sea every year, creating environmental challenges.
The reasons for abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) are many, and not always within the fisher’s control. By effectively marking their gear, recreational fishers can help minimise future losses.
Action RS9 of the HELCOM Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter aims to “investigate available options for fishing gear marking as a tool to prevent and reduce gear losses and produce recommendations to improve gear marking to increase the effectiveness of this tool”. In addition, in February 2025, the European Commission adopted a new regulation requiring clear marking of certain types of passive fishing gear. For the successful implementation of these commitments, it is essential to raise awareness and exchange knowledge, experience, challenges and solutions.
We invite you to join this webinar and contribute to the next concrete steps for this important work. The webinar is moderated by Sandra Kropa, an environmental journalist from Latvia.
Organised by the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM) in partnership with KIMO, and funded by the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management.
Target audiences:
- government officials
- representatives from fishing associations
- representatives from national, regional & international organisations
(working at either the policy or practical level)
Programme
| Time (CET) | Programme item |
|---|---|
| 09:00-09:15 | Welcome by the moderator Sandra Kropa, environmental journalist Opening remarks Rüdiger Strempel, Executive Secretary, HELCOM |
| 09:15-10:15 | How data, guidance and regulation can advance action – Understanding the input from recreational fisheries to ALDFG Joel Baziuk, Associate Director, Global Ghost Gear Initiative – Global guidance to support marking of recreational fishing gear Haraldur Arnar Einarsson, Fishing Gear Expert, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – Gear marking as a tool to prevent losses: new EU rules European Commission, DG MARE, Unit 4 |
| 10:15-10:30 | Break |
| 10:30-11:30 | The new EU gear marking rules in practice: cross-country knowledge exchange |
| 11:30-12:30 | What’s next? Community perspectives and recommendations for concrete next steps |
| 12:30 | Closing remarks |
Contact
Marta Ruiz
Associate Professional Secretary, HELCOM
marta.ruiz@helcom.fi
Lisa Bugge Nør Larsen
Executive Secretary, KIMO
Lisa.larsen@aalborg.dk