SeaBioMat: a European project to revolutionise the maritime sector with biodegradable materials

The 28th March 2025 marked the official launch of the SeaBioMat project, an ambitious European initiative supported by the Interreg programme. Hosted by the VLIZ - Flanders Marine Institute in Ostend, the event brought together the project partners to work towards a common goal: transforming the maritime sector through the use of biobased and biodegradable materials.

A major environmental challenge
Today, much of the equipment used at sea - fishing nets, cages, buoys, etc. - are still made from materials of fossil origin. When lost or abandoned at sea, this equipment becomes a significant source of plastic pollution, with a direct impact on marine biodiversity, ecosystems and, ultimately, human health.

A concrete response: SeaBioMat
Following on from the SeaBioComp project (2019-2023), SeaBioMat aims to develop new solutions based on PLA (polylactic acid), a biosourced, compostable polymer. These innovative materials aim to reduce the environmental footprint of active and passive fisheries, while guaranteeing the required technical performance.

Multidisciplinary European cooperation
The project brings together major players in research, innovation and the blue economy: Centexbel, Ifremer, IMT Nord Europe, EuraMaterials, VLIZ, ILVO (Flemish Institute for Research in Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) and the AQUIMER cluster. This cross-border partnership illustrates the collective desire to move towards a more sustainable maritime economy.

For more information, please contact Marie BRUAUT.