From 10 to 11 June 2025, the team of the European project Free LitterAT met in Brest, France, for the fourth meeting of the Steering Committee. The event took place at the facilities of Cedre, an internationally recognised centre of excellence in the fight against marine pollution and a key partner in the project.
The meeting brought together representatives from all partner organisations from France, Spain, Portugal, and Ireland, who carried out an in-depth review of the progress of ongoing activities, shared preliminary results, and planned the next phases of the project.
During the meeting, participants reviewed progress on regulatory analysis for the implementation of the SUP and PRF Directives, and advance in the implementation of EPR systems, identifying country-specific differences and competent authorities. Updates on technical studies included a life cycle analysis of fishing gear, biodegradable materials research, and recycling experiments for end-of-life fishing gear.
Significant progress was reported in seafloor monitoring using towed cameras, ROVs, AUVs, and alternative technologies. Microplastics monitoring advanced with new sampling prototypes, real-time data tools, and harmonised analysis protocols, with quantification methods nearing completion and marine litter accumulation zones identified. Communication efforts continue with educational games, awareness campaigns, and clean-up activities.
Further advances were presented on plastic degradation caused by UVA and UVB radiation, biofouling effects on plastic buoyancy, and enhanced modelling tools improving marine litter transport and accumulation predictions.
Notable progress was made in detecting and mapping lost fishing gear in the Atlantic, with field campaigns planned in Galicia and a pilot recovery and waste management initiative set for 2026 in Spain, Ireland, and Portugal. Coastal litter hotspots were identified along French, Portuguese, and Irish coasts, supported by a multilingual training program for municipalities. Ongoing clean-up operations continue in France, Madeira, and Ireland. Additionally, innovation in microplastic filtration has led to a new biopolymer-based washing machine filter now under testing and patent review.
The meeting also focused on organising thematic webinars and local workshops for late 2025 and early 2026 to foster stakeholder engagement across fisheries, waste management, authorities, and scientific institutions. This meeting reaffirmed Free LitterAT’s commitment to collaborative action toward preventing and reducing marine litter across the Atlantic region.
