Through its projectTeineSaverSola Passion has shown how creativity, technology and environmental commitment can be combined in the pursuit of concrete solutions for the ocean. The project was part of the international technology competitionFIRST LEGO League Challenge, where the team won three awards in the regional final – and qualified for the Scandinavian final in Trondheim.
But the journey there could easily have been stopped by financial obstacles – until they received a surprise visit.
Investing in solutions
For a while, things looked bleak for the students in Sola Passion: even with a place in the final secured, they lacked the funds to travel to Trondheim. And without help from sponsors, they would not have been able to go. That was before The Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund’s CEO, Cecilie Lind, suddenly appeared in the classroom. She brought good news – The Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund would ensure that Sola Passion made it to the final, no matter how many sponsors came on board.
“Ghost fishing is a serious environmental problem that we are actively working to combat, and that is precisely why we want to support those who are thinking innovatively and seeking solutions. Sola Passion’s project is both impressive and inspiring, and we are therefore very proud to have been able to help them travel to the final with their excellent idea,” says Cecilie Lind, CEO of The Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund.
From insight to idea
Through surveys and interviews with researchers, divers and fishers – including representatives from the Institute of Marine Research, the Directorate of Fisheries and The Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund – the pupils chose to explore ghost fishing in greater depth. This refers to fishing gear that is lost at sea and continues to catch and kill marine life long afterwards.
The team found that recreational fishers lose the most fish traps in Southern Norway, and therefore developedTeineSaver– a small, waterproof buoy with a sensor, attached to the fish trap, making it possible to find it again using sonar. The solution is intended to be affordable, accessible and sustainable, and has been developed with an understanding of both technology, user needs and environmental impact.
