Our Sister Projects

SEARCULAR is proud to be funded as a part of the European Commission Mission Restore our Oceans and Waters programme, and is a signatory of the Mission Charter. Throughout the project, we have had the opportunity to work alongside several other projects working to create healthier oceans for people and planet. Just some of these projects are highlighted below.

Catchgreen

Catchgreen develops biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastics used in ocean-based industries. Sectors such as aquaculture, fisheries, and maritime operations rely heavily on plastic equipment like ropes, nets, and lines that can persist in marine environments for decades. Catchgreen’s goal is to provide practical, high-performance solutions that reduce this long-term environmental impact without compromising functionality.

Our biodegradable materials are engineered to deliver the strength, durability, and handling characteristics required for demanding marine applications. Designed as drop-in replacements for conventional plastics, Catchgreen products integrate easily into existing operations, allowing companies to adopt more sustainable materials without changing their infrastructure or workflows.

The company collaborates closely with industry partners to ensure products meet real operational needs. Catchgreen solutions are already being tested and deployed in commercial environments, including aquaculture operations, where they have demonstrated reliable performance throughout full production cycles.

As ocean industries continue to grow globally, the demand for sustainable materials is increasing. Catchgreen aims to support this transition by offering scalable alternatives that help companies reduce plastic pollution while maintaining productivity and efficiency.

By combining performance, sustainability, and commercial practicality, Catchgreen is helping drive the shift toward more responsible materials in the blue economy.

Find out more about Catchgreen here!

DSOLVE Project

SFI Dsolve is a centre for research-based innovation headed by the Arctic University of Norway UiT.

Dsolve is an eight-year programme funded by the Research Council of Norway and the centre was opened in April 2020. Our research aims to reduce plastic litter and associated problems such as ghost fishing, macro and microplastic caused by the fishery and aquaculture industries. The goal is that traditional plastics in these sectors can be replaced with new biodegradable materials. Furthermore, we aim at placing Norway at the forefront of research, development and use of these new materials.

Our research is divided into six research areas headed by national research partners UiT Arctic University of Norway, SINTEF Ocean, SINTEF Industry, Norner AS, Norsus AS and SALT Lofoten AS / UiT. Apart from Norwegian research institutions, the consortium is built from 18 national and international industry partners, research institutions from Croatia, Germany and Denmark and national and international innovation and advisory committees.

Find out more about Dsolve here!

CIRCNETS

CIRCNETS (Blue Circular Nets) was a project funded by EU’s Northern Periphery and Arctic programme (NPA 2021 – 2027). The aim of the project was to support collection, treatment and recycling of end-of-life (EOL) fishing gear in the NPA region. EOL fishing gear is a major source of marine plastic waste, which was addressed in the EU’s SUP directive.

The EU member countries were required to introduce Extended Producer Responsibility for EOL fishing gear to decrease their impact on plastic pollution of the seas. CIRCNETS assessed how separate collection of fishing gear was organised, how the collected gear was treated after collection and whether it was sent to be recycled or not. This was done in Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway and Sweden. Based on these findings, various surveys and extensive stakeholder engagement, recommendations were made on how handling of fishing gear waste should be improved to meet the requirements of the SUP directive and also to consider the challenging, local circumstances. The main outcome of the project was a blueprint for setting up a collection and recycling system for EOL fishing gear in the NPA region.

Find out more about CIRCNETS here!

REDES DE ESPAÑA

The main objective of the REDES DE ESPAÑA project is to establish a system for the collection, transport, and recovery of discarded fishing gear that guarantees traceability and reintroduction to the market for the entities that produce the waste , thus moving towards the goal of zero waste.

CEPESCA, the project’s coordinator along with the National Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (FNCP) and the Automotive Technology Center of Galicia (CTAG), aware of the environmental challenge posed by discarded fishing nets and gear, has committed to implementing a certification program for the management of fishing nets and gear that have reached the end of their useful life, promoting their return to the circular economy.

Find out more about REDES DE ESPAÑA here!

REMEDIES

Co-creating strong uptake of REMEDIES for the future of our oceans through deploying plastic litter valorisation and prevention pathways.

The REMEDIES project focuses on three key pillars: monitoring and detection of plastic litter, collection and valorization, prevention and zero waste solutions. Aligning with allies, we address plastic pollution’s impact on marine ecosystems. Our project tests four innovations per pillar across 8 demonstration sites in the Mediterranean and expands to 33 more locations. A significant part of the project is community building, involving stakeholders and turning those affected by plastic pollution into actors for a healthier ocean. We aim to create a plastic-conscious society, realizing 115 beach cleanups and engaging 2K citizens to collect more than 20t of plastic (#20tonneschallenge). With REMEDIES, we have launched two open calls for Associate Regions with financial support of 500K. Overall, we aim to map 170 km², engage 100,000 citizens, and reach more than 1 million people, collect 400 tons of plastic, and prevent 3,700 tons of plastic waste from entering marine environments.

Find out more about REMEDIES here!

NETTAG+

NETTAG+ is a three-year project spanning 7 different countries, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Program. The project aims to prevent, avoid and mitigate the environmentally harmful impacts of fishing gears and their associated marine litter by empowering fishers as guardians and cleaners of the ocean, developing acoustic tags for fishing gear, and developing a system for the detection of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gears (ALDFG).

Find out more NETTAG+ here!

TRANSEATION Project

TRANSEATION is a Horizon Europe project working to improve the health and resilience of marine ecosystems through innovative hybrid blue-grey infrastructures that combine engineered structures with Nature-Based Solutions (NbS). The project explores how human activities at sea — such as offshore energy production, coastal protection and aquaculture — can better coexist with marine biodiversity.

By combining ecological knowledge, engineering and participatory approaches, TRANSEATION contributes to the development of Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) strategies aligned with EU environmental objectives. The project ultimately aims to support scalable solutions that protect marine habitats, strengthen ocean resilience and promote sustainable blue economy activities.

Find out more about TRANSEATION here!

Keen to get involved and join the loop?

Contact us at: info@searcular.eu

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