Waste reduction and management on fishing vessels – NS-ISO 5020
The standard NS-ISO 5020 aims to prevent marine litter and other pollution, reduce ghost fishing, and ensure that used materials and other resources are brought ashore for further utilization.
Marine litter—especially plastic—poses a major threat to the future productivity of the oceans. The fishing industry itself is a significant contributor to this pollution. As the problem is global, global solutions are needed. Therefore, an international ISO standard has been developed to help fishers manage their own waste in the best possible way, preventing further pollution.
Contents of the standard
NS-ISO 5020 Waste reduction and management on fishing vessels includes guidance on:
- Principles to follow for optimal results
- How to sort waste and other potentially polluting substances
- How to create a simple waste management plan
- How to handle, store, treat, and secure waste on board
- How to cooperate with reception facilities on land
- What should be documented
- Common terminology within this field
The standard supports a shift toward a circular economy, emphasizing the reuse of products, components, materials, and packaging.
The development of the standard—coordinated globally by ISO and nationally by Standards Norway—was funded by the Norwegian Fishermen’s Association, Norsk Villfisk, Fiskernes Agnforsyning, and the Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund.
The standard is intended for fishers, fishing vessel owners, suppliers to the fishing industry, equipment designers, NGOs, regulatory authorities, and land-based waste reception facilities.