PODCAST: On Abandoned Boats and Fibreglass with Dr. Corina Ciocan

Now, we know since the 1950’s, GRP and FRP hulls – glass and fibre reinforced plastics, became the go-to for boat building. These materials were revolutionary, not just for maintenance, cost and performance, but also increasing the accessibility of boats to a much wider audience.

Fast-forward several decades, and these materials; meaning thousands and thousands of boats, are at end-of life, with no formal recycling opportunities anywhere in the world….

So, what currently happens to boats when they die? And what impact are they having on the environment? Listen in to hear Dr. Corina Ciocan - Principal Lecturer in Ecotoxicology/Marine Biology at the University of Brighton speak about her somewhat alarming research on our choice boat-building materials and our marine environments, plus our human health...