Release of a “forever material” from end-of-life boats and glass-reinforced composite boats is pervasive and entering food chains

Published on September 25th 2024 by Global Change Biology, this paper by Corina Ciocan et al. describes the damaging effect that abandoned GRP (glass fibre) boats have on the marine environment.

Building boats of sufficient strength and durability to withstand the harsh water environment has always been a challenge. Composites, particularly glass-reinforced plastic (GRP), historically provided one of the best low maintenance solutions. Over the past 80 years, GRP boats have become a mainstay of the boating industry while little attention has been given to the consequences of GRP degradation, lack of recycling solutions, and boat abandonment. This paper highlights the widespread glass fiber pollution and alarming levels of glass microparticles entering aquatic food chains. Prospective legal and policy measures are, therefore, required to manage risks to human and marine life.

by Corina Ciocan, Kethan Jha, Claude Annels, Rachel Kozloski, Ilse Steyl, Simon Bray