DOO Komunalne djelatnosti Ulcinj was selected under REMEDIES Open Call 2 with MARICES, Marine Awareness, Recycling, and Innovation through Community Engagement and Solutions, a project focused on improving the management and recycling of discarded fishing nets in Ulcinj. The project addressed marine litter by working directly with local fishermen, municipal services, civil society, businesses, national institutions, and Mediterranean partners to reduce the environmental impact of abandoned or improperly disposed fishing gear.
MARICES combined awareness, infrastructure, circular economy, and policy work. Through three educational workshops, at least 45 representatives of fishermen and other sectors were trained on the dangers of marine litter and the environmental impact of disposing plastic nets into the sea. Five suitable locations for fishing-net disposal were identified, formally approved by the Municipality of Ulcinj, and equipped with dedicated disposal stations placed in key locations used by fishermen. These containers are intended to remain in place beyond the project, creating an accessible route for proper net collection and future reuse.
The project also explored circular economy pathways for discarded nets. A local recycling company, Maniplast from Ulcinj, was identified as a potential partner to test whether collected net materials can be processed using existing recycling equipment. MARICES also organised a seven-day study visit to Slovenia for 10 participants, including visits to the National Institute of Chemistry, Aquafil Ljubljana, Snaga Maribor, Rifuzl, and a reuse centre. This exchange helped strengthen international cooperation and opened practical conversations on how successful waste management and circular economy models could inspire similar approaches in Montenegro.
At the policy level, the project reviewed the current legislative framework for fishing-net management in Montenegro and confirmed that there are currently no specific national regulations addressing discarded fishing nets. MARICES opened dialogue with the Ministry responsible for ecology, sustainable development, and northern development, provided recommendations, and expressed willingness to contribute to future working groups on by-laws for fishing-net management.
The project concluded with an international conference in Ulcinj, gathering 40 participants from Montenegro and the broader Mediterranean region, including Croatia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, and Tunisia. Representatives from institutions and organisations such as the Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro, the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro, GIZ, and the BeMed community joined the exchange, helping strengthen cooperation on marine litter management, circular economy, policy alignment, funding, and replication in other coastal areas. The workshops, study visit, conference, and media outreach helped increase public awareness, build trust with local fishermen, and lay the foundation for a more sustainable and community-driven marine waste management model in Ulcinj.
MARICES’ long-term value lies in the combination of practical infrastructure, stakeholder trust, policy dialogue, and regional cooperation. By making fishing-net disposal easier, engaging fishermen from the start, and opening routes for recycling and legislative improvement, the project created a foundation for scalable marine protection actions in Ulcinj and other coastal communities.
