Brighton research sparks global fight against hidden boat pollution

University of Brighton marine biologist Dr Corina Ciocan was among the first to identify microscopic fibreglass particles in oysters and mussels in UK waters. Her findings suggest that ageing boats may be shedding material into surrounding waters and sediments, where it enters the marine food chain through organisms such as shellfish, with potential implications for ecosystems and human health.

Now, her research is driving international action, inspiring Regenerative Tides: Sailing for Solutions (ReTISS) – an UN-endorsed citizen science project building on this research to investigate abandoned fibreglass vessels across France, the UK and Portugal and assess their environmental impact.

Led by the French charity Floating Stories Lab – founded by eco-adventurer and storyteller Angie Richard – the project brings together scientists, coastal communities and students to map abandoned boats, collect environmental data, and raise awareness of what researchers describe as an “invisible pollution” problem.

The initiative has now secured international recognition, with endorsement as a Decade Action of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), following review by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. The endorsement places the project within a worldwide network of initiatives working to improve ocean health and accelerate solutions to pressing marine challenges. 

Dr Corina Ciocan

For Dr Ciocan, it marks an important moment in the journey from discovery to action. She said: “This recognition shows how a local research finding can grow into something much bigger. It connects our work with a global community focused on protecting the ocean and helps ensure this issue receives the attention it deserves.”

The project has already documented dozens of abandoned boats along European coastlines and developed a publicly accessible online mapping platform that allows members of the public to report sightings, upload photographs and share location-based information on environmental conditions across France, the UK and Portugal.

Citizen scientists, including college students, have also taken part in fieldwork in France, collecting and analysing samples to investigate microplastic and fibreglass contamination in coastal waters.

Early findings highlight the scale of the issue, with every oyster and mussel sample analysed from study sites containing fibreglass and plastic particles, pointing to widespread contamination in affected coastal areas.

The project is now expanding its work, bringing together researchers, boat builders, fishermen and coastal communities to explore practical solutions and improve understanding of how abandoned boats can be managed in the future.

Dr Ciocan said: “This is a complex issue that affects ecosystems, industries, and communities. By working together across disciplines and borders, we have a much better chance of developing solutions that are both effective and sustainable.”

“At the moment, there is no coordinated system in Europe for tracking or managing end-of-life fibreglass boats. That creates a serious regulatory gap as large numbers of vessels built from the 1960s onwards are now reaching the end of their usable life.”

Angie Richard said: “While the issue of end-of-life boats has gained visibility in recent years, political momentum still lags behind. Authorities often point to a lack of data as a reason for inaction. At Floating Stories Lab, we saw an opportunity to turn that gap into a point of engagement – by equipping coastal citizens with simple, place-based tools and methodology to collect environmental data. This not only supports scientists in identifying contamination hotspots, but – because the data is publicly accessible – also helps build awareness and, ultimately, public pressure for change.”

With millions of fibreglass boats in use worldwide and no widely adopted recycling solution, researchers highlight the need for effective recycling and disposal solutions.

The project responds to this challenge by combining scientific research with community-led action to make this largely hidden form of pollution visible – and to drive the changes needed to protect marine environments for the future.