(ANSA) - ANCONA - Fishermen can be environmental guardians of the sea. This is the aim of the DeFishGear European project, Derelict Fishing Gear Management System in the Adriatic Region, coordinated by the National Institute of Chemistry in Ljubljana, Slovenia , together with 14 partner countries which take part in the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative. The purpose of DeFishGear, which involves, in Italy, the Ispra-Institute for Protection and Environmental Research, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, ARPA (Environmental Protection agency) of Emilia Romagna region, the Mediterranean Consortium, technical and scientific branch of Lega Pesca (Fishing League), is to reduce the impacts caused by the marine debris in the Adriatic Sea, by involving fishing companies, researchers, NGOs, industries, local authorities. In the Marche region, this project, which is funded with 5 million by the IPA Adriatic-Instrument of Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), will be carried out by the Fishing League of Marche Region and and by the Cooperative company of trawlers and fishing boats of Ancona, one of the three harbours that are part in the project along with Chioggia (Venice) and Molfetta (Bari).

(ANSA).