14,934,158 lbs of Dangerous Nets Removed From The Ocean

Having grown up on a small island off of the coast of Rhode Island, and later having lived the good life in Australia, Stover recounts that it was in his mid-20s that he began to travel more extensively, in search not just for good waves, but also a deeper meaning to life. While the waves, new friendships, and memorable experiences were abundant, so was pollution. 

“We couldn’t get away from plastic, it was everywhere. Indonesia in particular was a real shocking eye-opener to the extent of the problem. This realization sparked a desire to come up with a solution and that, for us to be successful, we needed to come up with one specific focus to help the ocean.” 

“All plastic in the ocean is a result of human activity”, and there are two main types: one is single-use plastic like water bottles, plastic bags, and food containers, the other is ghost fishing gear like nets, lines, traps, and buoys. While any discarded plastic is a threat to marine environments the most harmful type are discarded fishing nets. Once abandoned, they lie just below the surface and create huge risks for all types of marine life–from smaller fish to the largest whales (see below). 

The source of the problem began decades ago when the first plastic fishing nets hit the seas. On one hand, they were lighter, more durable, and easier to fix than the existing nets made of natural fibers–on the other hand, they take hundreds of years to break down. Even as more and more nets started to litter the ocean, a comprehensive collection plan was never put in place via harbors, ports, or marinas. The fisherman had no choice other than to burn them (releasing toxic smoke) or dispose of them in the same environments that support their livelihoods. 

It was in 2013 that co-founders David Stover, Ben Kneppers, and Kevin Ahearn spent the year living in Chile, where they had successfully pitched the government on a plan to tackle the discarded nets, and Bureo began to come to life. The “aha moment” came when they learned that the nylon used to make the nets was actually a highly recyclable material and could be turned into traceable pellets for a second life that posed no risk to the ocean. 

“We first pitched our friend Tim Silverwood, founder of Take 3 in Australia, and Curtis Lowe, from Project Clean Uluwatu, for advice on how to get things going as we really respected what they were doing. Kyle Parsons, founder of Indosole, was another great resource that helped get us thinking more about industrial ecology and how to solve problems along those lines.”

Since their very first product, a recycled fishnet cruiser skateboard, they have since worked with an array of brands keen to utilize their trademarked Net Plus material to replace virgin plastics and therefore offer more ocean-friendly products to consumers. Partners include (but are not limited to), Patagonia, Outerknown, Finisterre, Futures, Yeti, Burton, Carver, Quiksilver, Costa Sunglasses, Rivian and more. 

“We were so lucky to receive the support of Jack Johnson early on, we met him when he was on tour and he invited us to a show on the North Shore and got a ton of our skateboards to give to friends, family, and kids at the local schools. That was really a tremendous breakthrough for us. Thanks again Jack!”

Their work wouldn't be possible without the support of the local fishermen and coastal communities and the brands within the surfing and larger outdoor industry that collaborate to find ways to integrate net plus into their products.

Bureo is SURFER approved.