Driven by the Spanish company Satlink, the circular economy project expands now across all tropical tuna oceans
The NGO Project Biodiversity, based in Cape Verde, joins Project ReCon, thus extending the initiative’s reach to a total of 9 countries.
Project ReCon becomes the first buoy reuse initiative to be carried out in the Atlantic Ocean.
Just two months after celebrating its first anniversary, Project ReCon achieves a new milestone: the addition of its first local partner in the Atlantic Ocean, the Cape Verdean organization Project Biodiversity. Focused on the conservation and restoration of marine ecosystems and the protection of endangered species and habitats, the NGO Project Biodiversity joins Project ReCon with the aim of reconditioning buoys to promote on-board safety, enhance shark monitoring, or signal protected marine areas, among other potential uses.
Project ReCon, which is run by the Spanish company Satlink, extends now its presence to all tropical tuna fishing oceans, and becomes the first buoy reuse initiative to take place in the Atlantic Ocean. "We are excited to welcome our new local partner, Project Biodiversity, to ReCon. The conservation work, environmental awareness and sustainability promotion they undertake are entirely aligned with Satlink and Project ReCon, and we look forward to the challenges of reconditioning the buoys for potential new uses", says Kathryn Gavira, Head of Science and Sustainability at Satlink.
Albert Taxonera, Project Biodiversity Executive Director, adds, "By joining the project, we are not only contributing to prevent these devices become technological waste as a result of ocean currents, but it will also allow us to use reconditioned buoys to locate the scientific equipment we use in shark monitoring, or to help us promote the on-board safety of those fishing in the area, among other things”.
After taking its first steps in Australia with founding partner Tangaroa Blue Foundation, Project ReCon has become one of the most important fishing sustainability initiatives in the world. This unique circular economy program counts on significant environmental organizations as local partners, such as The Nature Conservancy (TNC), The Pacific Community (SPC), or Project Biodiversity, thus extending the project to the three tropical oceans and a total of 9 countries.
This international collaboration network, that is paving the way for the future of fisheries sustainability, aims to recover, recondition, and reuse echosounder buoys used by the tropical purse seine fishing fleet. One of the cornerstones of Project ReCon is its industry-wide support and involvement. Currently, more than 100 vessels from 22 companies and organizations such as Albacora, Echebastar, Inpesca, OPAGAC/AGAC, Sapmer, Bolton Food Group, Cape Fisheries, Caroline Fisheries Corporation, Trimarine, Oakcity Tuna Fishing Corporation, Hartswater, and the entire US Pacific Tuna Group, among many others, are participating in the project.
As a result of its achievements, Project ReCon received the prestigious Tuna Awards 2023, hosted by the Anfaco-Cecopesca association and the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food. The award recognized the unique nature of Project ReCon and its contribution to the sustainability of the fishing industry.
This award reinforces Satlink's strategy and commitment to ensuring the comprehensive sustainability of fishing activities, and adds to recent recognitions: United Nations (UN) Global Compact recognized Satlink’s technology in 2022 for its contribution to ocean and marine life conservation, awarding it the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 prize. This recognition was followed in 2023 by the European Union Technology Chamber's award.
About Satlink
Founded in 1992, Satlink is a Spanish technology company focused on the development of Internet of Things (IoT) and end-to-end (E2E) connectivity solutions. As the world's leading provider of technology solutions for the fisheries segment - for both industry and regulators - Satlink is committed to fisheries sustainability and ocean conservation. Headquartered in Madrid, Satlink has offices in Spain (Marin), Seychelles, Ecuador, USA, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Korea, and Taiwan, and works with local partners in other parts of the world.
About Project Biodiversity
Project Biodiversity is a Cabo Verdean organization committed to conserving and restoring the island’s unique ecosystems. Based on the island of Sal, the project implements a variety of environmental programmes that achieve ambitious conservation goals and support sustainable economic growth for local communities.
