As the project approaches its successful conclusion in March 2026, a pivotal series of events took place in northern Vietnam from June 16–20, 2025, bringing together key stakeholders for critical coordination, evaluation, and planning.
Workshop at Ha Long University (June 16–18, 2025)
Hosted by Ha Long University (HLU), the multi-day workshop gathered all core partners of the project. Participants included representatives from Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences (lead partner), the three Vietnamese partner universities – Nha Trang University (NTU), Kien Giang University (KGU), and HLU – as well as the partner companies STP Group and Siam Brothers Vietnam, the Research Institute for Marine Fisheries (RIMF), and the non-profit collaborators ICAFIS and VINATUNA. Local authorities also took part in a Round Table Talk (RTT) to strengthen collaboration.
Workshop Highlights:
- Project Status and Final Sprint: The workshop served as a strategic forum to align all efforts for the final project phase.
- Second Comparative Survey: Partners discussed an additional round of data collection to expand the project database and validate key findings.
- Best-Practice Guidelines: Final edits and partner feedback were integrated into guidelines aimed at improving recycling practices across industry stakeholders.
- Round Table Talk: This session fostered open dialogue between project partners and local authorities, reinforcing long-term cooperation.
- Demonstration Centers: Planning progressed for the establishment of small-scale mechanical recycling demonstration units at the three partner universities. Details on delivery, installation, and the autumn 2025 visit by Ostfalia expert Welf Graf von Luxburg-Marten were finalized.
- Interviews and Media: Partner interviews were conducted to document project progress and future outlooks.
- Higher Education Integration: Steps were taken to firmly establish recycling as a field within the academic curriculum of the partner universities.
- Documentary Series: The final stages of a 7-part documentary series on the fishing net recycling sector and the project itself were completed.
- Outreach Enhancement: Strategies to further improve the project’s visibility on social media were discussed.
- Visit to RIMF: The workshop concluded with a visit to RIMF, including in-depth discussions and additional interviews.
Excursion to Fishing Net Recycling Company (June 19, 2025)
The project team visited a local company specializing in the recycling of discarded fishing nets into high-quality plastic granules. These granules are further processed by a partner company into durable yarns and ropes, demonstrating the mechanical strength and practical usability of recycled materials. This excursion provided valuable technical insights and included interviews with the company.
Visit to STP Group (June 20, 2025)
On the final day, the project team visited the production site of STP Group, a key project partner located near Hanoi. The company showcased its successful integration of recycled content into its product lines, which include pipes, buoys, and artificial reefs. The visit offered important insights into industrial-scale implementation of recycling processes.
These activities mark a significant milestone in the project, underlining both the collaborative spirit and the shared commitment to advancing sustainable recycling practices in Vietnam’s aquaculture and fisheries sectors.
