Fishing Nets: A Major Ocean Polluter?

Fishing nets and other fishing gear are a major source of ocean plastic pollution, threatening marine life and ecosystems. Abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) such as nets, lines, ropes, and traps are used to catch trillions of fish and other aquatic animals each year, with commercial industrial fishing being the primary source of ALDFG in the oceans. This ghost gear can result from various factors, including entanglement with reefs or other gear, bad weather, and intentional discarding from illegal and unregulated fishing activities. It is estimated that 2% of all fishing gear used worldwide ends up polluting the oceans, causing heavy social, economic, and environmental damage. The presence of ghost gear in the ocean can have devastating consequences for marine life, entangling and killing countless species, including endangered and critically endangered animals.

Ghost gear is the most harmful form of marine plastic

Ghost gear, or abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), is the most harmful form of marine plastic. It is estimated that ghost gear makes up 10% of ocean plastic pollution and constitutes the majority of large plastic polluting the waters. For plastics larger than 20cm in size floating on the ocean's surface, fishing gear accounts for as much as 70% by weight.

Fishing nets, lines, pots, traps, and hooks used in commercial fishing are dumped and discarded in the sea every year, posing a significant threat to marine life. The durable and buoyant plastic fishing gear can persist in the ocean for hundreds of years, continuously entangling and killing marine animals, damaging habitats, and disrupting feeding and breeding grounds. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) estimates that fishing waste threatens 66% of marine animals, including all sea turtle species and 50% of seabirds, through entanglement or entrapment.

The impact of ghost gear is exacerbated by the growth of large-scale industrial fishing operations, driven by the increasing global demand for seafood. Commercial industrial fishing is the primary source of ALDFG in the oceans, with intentional discarding, particularly from illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing, contributing significantly to the problem. Additionally, certain types of fishing gear, such as bottom trawl nets, are more prone to getting caught on reefs and other obstructions, increasing the likelihood of loss.

Various initiatives and innovations are being implemented to tackle the issue of ghost gear. The Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) is a network that brings together the private sector, academia, governments, and non-governmental organizations to develop practical solutions. Some countries, like Canada, have made it mandatory to report gear loss and mark certain gear to increase accountability and facilitate the tracing of lost gear. Designers have also developed biodegradable fishing gear and satellite-traceable buoys to help fishers track and retrieve lost equipment.

Nets, lines, pots and traps are discarded into the ocean

Nets, lines, pots, and traps are collectively known as fishing gear, and when they are discarded into the ocean, they are referred to as "ghost gear". This ghost gear is a major source of ocean plastic pollution, with nets, in particular, making up a large portion of the large plastics in the ocean.

A report by Greenpeace found that more than 640,000 tonnes of ghost gear, including nets, lines, pots, and traps, are dumped and discarded in the sea every year. This is the same weight as 55,000 double-decker buses. The report calls for international action to address the plastic pollution caused by this gear, which is deadly to marine wildlife.

Ghost gear can result from fishing equipment getting entangled on reefs, rocks, and other obstructions, conflicts with vessels or other gear, or bad weather. It may also be lost due to extended soak times, fishing in deep habitats, or deploying excessive gear. Intentional discarding, including from illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing, also contributes significantly to ghost gear in the sea.

The impact of ghost gear on marine life is devastating. It can entangle and trap marine animals, causing injuries or death due to exhaustion, predation, or starvation. It can also smother seagrass beds and damage coral reefs, reducing the resilience of marine habitats and making them more vulnerable to threats like climate change. According to WWF, fishing waste threatens 66% of marine animals, including all sea turtle species and 50% of seabirds.

Ghost gear is responsible for the deaths of marine animals

Ghost gear, or abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear, is a major source of ocean plastic pollution and is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of marine animals annually. It is estimated that 640,000 tons of ghost gear, including nets, lines, pots, and traps, are left in the oceans each year, wreaking havoc on marine life and their environment.

Ghost gear can ensnare and entangle marine animals, leading to injuries, suffocation, and starvation. It can also damage marine habitats, such as coral reefs, and disrupt feeding and breeding grounds, reducing the resilience of different species and weakening the ocean ecosystem. The presence of ghost gear exacerbates the decline in fish and other commercial aquatic animal populations caused by large-scale industrial fishing.

Various factors contribute to the presence of ghost gear in the oceans. Intentional discarding, including from illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing, is a significant contributor. Additionally, gear can be lost due to entanglement on reefs, rocks, and other obstructions, conflicts with vessels, bad weather, extended soak times, fishing in deep habitats, or deploying excessive gear that cannot be hauled in.

The impact of ghost gear on marine life is devastating. It threatens 66% of marine animals, including all sea turtle species and 50% of seabirds. World Animal Protection estimates that ghost gear kills over 100,000 seals, sea lions, and large whales annually. A single net can have a significant impact, with one study estimating that a single derelict net killed upwards of 2,500,000 marine invertebrates, 800,000 fish, and 20,000 marine birds.

The issue of ghost gear has led to calls for global action and the implementation of measures to reduce marine pollution and protect marine life. Efforts such as the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) aim to prevent fishing gear from being lost, abandoned, or discarded and to remove gear that is already in the oceans.

The fishing industry is under-regulated

The fishing industry is a core sector of many countries' commercial and economic success, and the oceans are its key resource. The industry is under-regulated, and this has led to severe environmental and economic repercussions.

Fishing nets and gear are a major source of ocean plastic pollution, with nets making up the majority of large plastic littering the waters. A study of the "great Pacific garbage patch" found that it contained 42,000 tonnes of megaplastics, of which 86% was fishing nets. Another study estimated that 2% of all fishing gear used worldwide ends up polluting the oceans, and at current rates, in 65 years, there would be enough fishing nets in the sea to cover the entire planet. This lost fishing equipment, known as "ghost gear," can cause significant environmental, social, and economic damage. It continues to entangle and kill marine life, including endangered turtles, seabirds, and whales, and can physically damage marine habitats, alter the composition of marine sediments, and disrupt feeding and breeding grounds.

The under-regulation of the fishing industry has contributed to the problem of ghost gear. While governments have implemented policies and regulations to address overfishing and environmental concerns, more needs to be done to hold the industry accountable for its dangerous waste. Louisa Casson, an oceans campaigner at Greenpeace UK, has called for global action, stating that "ghost gear is a major source of ocean plastic pollution and it affects marine life in the UK as much as anywhere else."

The impact of ghost gear is not limited to the environment; it also affects the fishing industry economically. Every metre of lost net or line represents a cost to the fisher, not just in terms of replacement but also in lost potential catch. Additionally, the presence of ghost gear exacerbates the decline in fish and other commercial aquatic animal populations caused by large-scale industrial fishing. This further highlights the need for effective regulations and management plans for the fishing industry to ensure a balance between economic activities and environmental preservation.

To address the issue of ghost gear and under-regulation in the fishing industry, several measures can be implemented. Firstly, stricter enforcement of existing regulations and management plans is crucial. Governments should play an active role in ensuring that fishery officials and independent fishermen are acquainted with the regulations and that there are consequences for non-compliance. Additionally, international cooperation is essential, as oceans have no borders, and a global ocean treaty could help hold the fishing industry accountable for its waste. Furthermore, the development of new technologies and practices to reduce the loss of fishing gear could be encouraged, such as improving gear retrieval methods and developing biodegradable gear alternatives.

Efforts to reduce fishing pollution

Fishing nets and other gear that are lost, abandoned, or discarded at sea, known as "ghost gear", are a significant source of ocean plastic pollution, killing hundreds of thousands of marine animals each year. This ghost gear, which includes nets, lines, pots, and traps, makes up the majority of large plastic pollution in the oceans, with an estimated 640,000 tonnes of it ending up in the sea annually.

To reduce fishing pollution, several efforts and initiatives have been undertaken by various organizations and governments:

• Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI): The GGGI is a cross-sectoral alliance of more than 100 entities, including the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), World Animal Protection, and the US government, formed in 2015. It aims to tackle the problem of ghost gear through collaboration and sharing of data, resources, and education. As of 2020, 16 governments have joined the initiative, committing to enforce strict rules and regulations to reduce ghost gear in the oceans.
• The Ocean Cleanup: This non-profit organization develops technologies to remove plastic waste, including fishing-related debris, from the oceans. They have conducted research and cleaning operations in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), an area of plastic accumulation in the North Pacific, where it is estimated that 75% to 86% of plastic waste comes from offshore fishing activity. The Ocean Cleanup also has Interceptor Solutions to halt and extract riverine plastic before it reaches the ocean.
• MarGnet: This European project researches the effectiveness of a sonar device attached to the seabed to identify pollution hotspots and locate ghost nets.
• Greenpeace: Greenpeace has been advocating for global action to address the issue of ghost gear, calling on governments to regulate the fishing industry and protect marine life from the deadly impacts of abandoned fishing gear.
• Fishing industry reforms: Many fisheries have implemented reforms to reduce their environmental impact and improve sustainability. This includes adopting best practices for fishing and gear management, such as proper gear disposal, and educating fishers on the issues surrounding ghost gear.
• Design and manufacture of fishing gear: There are efforts to design and manufacture fishing gear that is traceable, recyclable, and less harmful to marine life if lost at sea.
• Removal of ghost gear: In Mexico's Upper Gulf of California, WWF removed over 62 tons of gillnets to protect the vaquita porpoise, which was driven to the brink of extinction by abandoned nets.

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