Dutch trawlers hauled 756 tonnes of rubbish out of the sea last year, breaking the 2020 record of 644 tonnes, according to coastal campaign group Kimo and the Fishing for Litter project.

The plastic and other waste was caught up in their nets, but kept and brought back to land as part of the clean seas project.

In some cases, so much rubbish was brought on board that special boats had to be used to bring it back to land, the association said in its 2021 annual report.

One reason for the increase is that more ships are taking part, organizer Mike Mannaart told broadcaster NOS. In addition, the ban on pulse fishing means more trawlers are now using traditional nets, which catch more waste, he said.