Brighton research sparks global fight against hidden boat pollution

A University of Brighton marine biologist’s research into fibreglass pollution in shellfish has inspired a UN-endorsed international project looking at pollution from abandoned boats.

A University of Brighton marine biologist’s research into fibreglass pollution in shellfish has inspired a UN-endorsed international project looking at pollution from abandoned boats.

Dr Corina Ciocan was among the first researchers to identify microscopic fibreglass particles in oysters and mussels in UK waters.

Her findings suggest ageing boats may be shedding material into surrounding waters and sediments, where it can enter the marine food chain through organisms such as shellfish. Researchers say this could have implications for ecosystems and human health.

The work has now helped inspire Regenerative Tides: Sailing for Solutions, known as ReTISS. The UN-endorsed citizen science project is investigating abandoned fibreglass vessels across the UK, France and Portugal.

Led by 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 “invisible pollution”.

The initiative has been endorsed as a Decade Action of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, following review by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.

Dr Ciocan 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 created an online mapping platform where the public can report sightings, upload photographs and share location-based environmental information.

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 show every oyster and mussel sample analysed from study sites contained fibreglass and plastic particles, suggesting widespread contamination in affected coastal areas.

The project is now expanding, bringing together researchers, boat builders, fishermen and coastal communities to explore practical solutions.

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.”

Researchers say millions of fibreglass boats remain in use worldwide, with no widely adopted recycling solution.

The project aims to combine scientific research with community-led action to make this hidden form of pollution more visible and help protect marine environments in the future.

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