Final event of the European NETTAG+ project takes place in Vila do Conde and Póvoa de Varzim

On 14 and 15 April 2026, Vila do Conde and Póvoa de Varzim will host the final event of the European NETTAG+ project, dedicated to the presentation and demonstration of innovative solutions to tackle marine litter associated with fishing activities.
Organised by the Interdisciplinary Centre for Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), the consortium leader, in collaboration with the Association for Greater Safety of Seafarers (APMSHM), the event will take place over two days and combines a scientific workshop with practical demonstrations in a real-world setting.

Event Programme

On 14 April, the event will take place at the Vila do Conde Municipal Auditorium and will bring together researchers from the project and other European initiatives working in the field of marine litter. The day will be dedicated to sharing scientific knowledge and discussing strategies to prevent and mitigate this problem on a global scale.
On 15 April, the initiative continues at the headquarters of APMSHM in Póvoa de Varzim, with a programme focused on practical demonstrations of the solutions developed within the project. Activities include onshore demonstrations, featuring presentations of technologies, educational tools, virtual reality experiences and policy recommendations, as well as demonstrations aboard a fishing vessel, where solutions such as acoustic and robotic systems for locating and recovering lost fishing gear will be tested.
The event, that is endorsed by the ocean decade, will bring together a wide range of participants, including managers, policy-makers, representatives from the fisheries sector, maritime authorities, businesses, the scientific community and the general public, promoting dialogue and fostering synergies between different sectors.
As highlighted by the coordinator of the NETTAG+ project and CIIMAR researcher, Sandra Ramos, “marine litter is a complex problem that requires collaboration across various sectors of society, with the direct involvement of fishers being essential for the development of effective solutions that can be applied on the ground”.
The project’s final event thus aims to drive the adoption and replication of the solutions developed, contributing to more sustainable practices and a more effective response to the challenges of marine litter.

About NETTAG+

Coordinated by Sandra Ramos and Marisa Almeida, researchers at CIIMAR, the NETTAG+ brings together an international and multidisciplinary consortium including: scientists (CIIMAR, INESC TEC, USC, UNEW, UAveiro), the fishing industry (ARVI, APMSHM, CoGePa, C&S), governmental fisheries authorities (MAFA), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) (WWF), and technological (Succorfish) and knowledge-management companies (ERINN).
This consortium brings together research institutions, the fishing industry, non-governmental organisations and technology companies.
Funded by the European Union, the project aims to prevent, avoid and mitigate the environmental impact of lost fishing gear and associated marine litter through the development and testing of innovative solutions in close collaboration with the sector.
For further information on the project, please visit www.nettagplus.eu.