Plastic waste accumulated on the seabed of the Kollam fishing grounds used by the mechanised fishing sector is being cleaned each day since the end of this year’s trawling ban period on August 1. Mechanised fishing boats that reach the Shakthikulangara-Neendakara twin fishing harbours here are now bringing back all plastic materials that get entangled in the fishing nets. Since the past 31 days, a large quantity of plastic bottles, sachets, bags, rope, buckets and a slew of other materials lying dumped in the seabed have now reached specially earmarked collection centres at the twin fishing harbours. Apart from that eco friendly activity, Kollam-based fishermen attached to the mechanised sector have also decided not to dump plastic waste into the sea. The green move was formally launched by Fisheries Minister J. Mercykutty Amma who aannounced that the follow-up action after the plastic materials are brought ashore will be taken up by the Kerala Suchitwa Mission. Peter Mathias, general secretary of the association, said waste that gets entangled in nets are now collected in specially made bags that the boats carry. At least 30 boats are bringing plastic waste from the sea each day. About 800 boats operate from the harbours and because each fishing sortie in the high seas lasts for about four days only about 40 return each day. He said the Harbour Engineering Department has now allocated the services of one staff to supervise the programme. The plastic collected will be sorted and recycled by the Suchitwa Mission.