Home / Environment / Nile Fishers Swap Nets for Plastic, Finding New Fortunes
Nile Fishers Swap Nets for Plastic, Finding New Fortunes
15 Mar
Summary
- Fishers now collect plastic waste for recycling company VeryNile.
- Plastic collection offers higher income than declining fish catches.
- VeryNile has collected over 454 tonnes of plastic since 2018.
Mohammed Ahmed Sayed Mohammed, a former fisherman from al-Qarsaya island in Cairo, now collects plastic waste from the Nile. Declining fish populations, a consequence of severe plastic pollution, have forced approximately 180 local fishers to abandon traditional practices. Sayed now earns more from plastic collection than he ever did from fishing.
Launched in 2018, the VeryNile initiative by Bassita pays fishers premium prices for plastic, offering a vital economic alternative. This program has collected over 454 tonnes of plastic waste, which is processed at a recycling factory. VeryNile also distributes boats and supports the local community.
The initiative has expanded to include women in sorting and product design, established a local clinic, and provides training for farmers. This shift has transformed the fishers into 'guardians of Nile waters,' contributing to both the environment and a burgeoning recycling economy.
