Meeting with the Latvian State Environmental Service in Roja; 11.07.2026

On 11 July, the COREEL project team from the Kurzeme Planning Region met with representatives of the State Environmental Service (VVD) in Roja to review the project’s progress and discuss the next steps in removing abandoned fishing gear from the Gulf of Riga.

During the meeting, the project team presented the objectives of COREEL, the activities completed to date, and the work planned for the coming months. Discussions focused on the practical aspects of retrieving abandoned fishing gear and opportunities for closer cooperation to support the successful implementation of project activities.

Participants also reviewed the planned installation of collection containers at Roja and Salacgrīva (Kuiviži) ports, where recovered fishing gear will be stored before further processing and recycling. In addition, the meeting explored the potential for developing a unified data collection system for abandoned and end-of-life fishing gear. Such a system would improve information sharing, support evidence-based decision-making, and strengthen long-term monitoring of marine pollution in the Baltic Sea.

The meeting marked another important step in building strong cooperation between the COREEL partnership and the State Environmental Service, reinforcing a shared commitment to reducing marine litter and protecting the Baltic Sea through coordinated, practical action.

Anete Jansone
Head of Project COREEL, Kurzeme Planning Region
anete.jansone@kurzemesregions.lv