On the occasion of Italy’s National Day of the Sea, celebrated every year on 11 April to promote maritime culture and the protection of the marine environment, Venice Lagoon Plastic Free (VLPF) highlights its participation in the Second Network of Stakeholders on End-of-Life Boats and Composites, held on 9 April 2026 and co-organised by DG MARE and the European Boating Industry (EBI).
The meeting provided an important opportunity to contribute to the growing European debate on the circularity of boats and composite materials, with particular attention to the environmental challenge posed by end-of-life boats and the need for more effective recycling solutions.
During the exchange, VLPF reaffirmed its commitment to promoting the recycling of reinforced fibreglass, considering landfill and incineration only as last-resort options. The organisation also drew attention to the environmental impacts caused by vessels linked to the tragedy of illegal trafficking and human smuggling that are stranded or sunk along the coastlines of Sicily, stressing the need for stronger European attention to this human and environmental issue.
VLPF is already active on this front through several EU-funded projects and its own programme “Ghost Boat” operation since 2022. Under the IPA ADRION JOINABLE project, the organisation is contributing to a value-chain approach to address end-of-life boats in Venice, central Italy, in cooperation with the Marche Region, and on Krk Island in Croatia in cooperation with the city Punat. Further activities are also expected under a newly won Horizon Europe Mission Ocean project, currently under Grant Agreement negotiation, which will extend our work and expertise on this topic to the United Kingdom.
The issue will also feature in VLPF’s annual international workshop on marine litter monitoring, removal and blue circular economy, organised at the Venice Boat Show, where the EMFAF Flagship project MED-HUBs will also be presented.
By taking part in this European dialogue, VLPF honours the spirit of the National Day of the Sea not only through awareness-raising, but also through active engagement in building practical, circular and environmentally responsible solutions for the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems.
For further reference, VLPF has also produced a video documentary on the issue of End-of-Life Boats in Venice, available on our YouTube channel. https://youtu.be/JZcWzwqAIL0?si=MAp8W6yx7zk8Y36L