Fishing vessel trash bag: A green solution at sea

A thought for fishermen

According to Mr. Tran Van Vinh, Deputy Director of the Binh Dinh Sub-Department of Fisheries, Binh Dinh province has previously provided offshore fishing vessels with trash bins to collect waste and bring it back to shore for proper disposal, thanks to support from various projects. However, due to the nature of offshore fishing operating in open waters and constantly exposed to strong winds and waves, these bins often proved ineffective. In many cases, trash bins placed on the decks were blown overboard by the wind. Moreover, the rough sea conditions frequently knocked the bins over, spilling waste across the deck, creating a mess and taking up valuable time for fishermen to clean.

In response to feedback from offshore fishermen, Mr. Vinh took the initiative to design a mesh trash bag that could withstand wind and wave conditions from level 8 to level 10. What makes this bag especially practical is that it can be hung anywhere on the vessel. Even in rough seas with strong winds and high waves, the bag can rotate freely without tipping over or spilling its contents, unlike traditional trash bins. The bag is designed with three compartments, can be folded neatly when not in use, and has a side opening for depositing waste.

Mr. Tran Van Vinh shared that the waste generated by a single fishing vessel during a sea voyage lasting 20 to 30 days typically ranges from 13.5 to 15 kilograms. With approximately 3,000 offshore fishing boats operating in Binh Dinh province, if waste is not collected, the province’s fishing fleet could contribute around 4.5 tons of waste into the ocean on just one fishing trip.

“Through my research on waste management, I realized that plastic waste generated by fishermen working on offshore vessels is considerable, such as water bottles and plastic bags used to store seafood,” said Mr. Vinh. “If this waste is discharged into the sea, it will seriously harm the marine environment. That’s why I designed a trash collection bag specifically for fishing boats, one that fits with the customs and habits of our fishermen.”

Trash bags “won the hearts” of many international delegates

Following the signing of Phase II of the project “Piloting Solid Waste and Fishery Waste Management Models to Promote the Circular Economy in Quy Nhon city” between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee, and Quy Nhon city, Mr. Vinh proposed the idea of developing a plastic waste management model for fishing vessels.

“I outlined the approach, methodology, and how to classify plastic waste onboard in a way that’s convenient for fishermen. From there, I designed a trash ‘basket’ in the form of a bag - something visually appealing, safe, low-cost, easy to use, and environmentally friendly,” Mr. Vinh shared.

Mr. Vinh's main goal when designing the mesh trash bag was to make plastic waste collection easy and practical for fishermen to bring back to shore after a trip.

“The mesh trash bag for fishing vessels is low-cost, easy to implement, and scalable. I drew inspiration for the design from the traditional mesh fish bags that fishermen often use when fishing. A long, funnel-shaped bag that can be hung on the boat. This makes it feel familiar and comfortable for them,” Mr. Vinh explained.

Upon closer inspection, the trash bag is designed in a circular, free-rotating shape. Notably, it is built to withstand external forces from strong waves and wind while the vessel operates at sea, without deforming. The bag can also be folded for flexible use, taking up far less space on board than traditional plastic trash bins.

Nguyen Thanh Long, an offshore fishing boat owner from Hoai Huong Ward (Hoai Nhon town, Binh Dinh province), shared: “We place the plastic waste collected during our fishing trips into the trash bag through its round, tube-shaped opening made from soft mesh. There’s no way for the trash to fall out. Once the boat returns to shore, we open the bottom of the bag and the waste empties out automatically. It’s very convenient. And because the bag is made of mesh, if it gets damaged, we can easily patch it using fishing line or nylon. It’s both practical and efficient.”

“In mid-March 2025, I was nominated by the Binh Dinh Fisheries Department to attend the Workshop on Combating Marine Plastic Waste in Japan. At the workshop, I presented an innovative solution and design for a specialized mesh bag used to collect plastic waste on fishing vessels. My design was honored with the ‘Zero-Plastic Hero Award.’ Delegates from the Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, and Japan were all very interested in Vietnam’s trash collection bag,” shared Mr. Tran Van Vinh, Deputy Director of the Binh Dinh Sub-Department of Fisheries.