Kiera Jefferson
Fishing is a major source of ocean pollution. Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) accounts for roughly 10% of all ocean debris, with an estimated 500,000 to 1 million tons of ALDFG ending up in the ocean each year. This includes nets, lines, and ropes, which make up about 46% of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an area of plastic accumulation in the North Pacific. The majority of this fishing waste comes from major industrialized fishing nations such as the United States, China, Japan, and Korea. Ghost gear, or ALDFG, is particularly deadly to marine life, entangling wildlife and spreading via tides and currents to remote areas. The negative impacts of ALDFG on wildlife, marine and coastal habitats, and food security are widely recognized, and organizations are working to address this issue through gear collection and recycling programs, improved gear management, and more sustainable fishing practices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of ocean plastic pollution from fishing gear | 10% |
| Percentage of Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) plastic pollution from fishing | 75% to 86% |
| Size of GPGP | Three times the size of France |
| Major producers of fishing waste in the GPGP | The United States, China, Japan, and Korea |
| Percentage of fishing gear lost to the ocean annually | Nearly 2% |
| Types of fishing gear contributing to ocean pollution | Nets, lines, ropes, FADs (fish aggregating devices), long lines, and plastic fishing crates and baskets |
| Impact of fishing gear pollution on wildlife | Entangling marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles, and other wildlife, leading to injuries or death |
| Organizations working to address fishing gear pollution | Greenpeace, WWF, The Ocean Cleanup, Sea Shepherd |
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What You'll Learn
Abandoned fishing gear is a major source of ocean plastic pollution
Abandoned fishing gear is a significant source of ocean plastic pollution, with serious consequences for marine life and the environment. Also known as "ghost gear", this abandoned equipment includes nets, lines, pots, traps, and crates, which can entangle and trap marine animals, leading to injuries and death. It is estimated that ghost gear makes up around 10% of ocean plastic pollution, forming the majority of large plastic litter in the waters.
The issue of abandoned fishing gear is widespread, with reports of entanglement in various regions, including off the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico, and the Orkney coast. In one instance, approximately 300 sea turtles died from entanglement in ghost gear near Mexico. In another incident, a pregnant whale was found off the Orkney coast with a net jammed in its baleen, impairing its feeding and movement.
Ghost gear can originate from illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing activities, as well as overcrowded fisheries. It can also result from conflicts with other vessels or fishing gear, bad weather, extended soak times, fishing in deep habitats, or deploying excessive gear. The slow degradation of plastic exacerbates the problem, as ghost gear can persist for hundreds of years, continuously harming marine life and habitats.
To address this issue, there have been calls for international action and better regulation of the fishing industry. Some organizations, like Sea Shepherd, actively work to remove abandoned fishing gear from the oceans and stop illegal fishing operations. Additionally, there is a focus on reducing the demand for fish and cutting down on single-use plastics. By tackling the problem at its source and through consumer awareness, efforts are being made to mitigate the impact of abandoned fishing gear on our oceans.
Overall, abandoned fishing gear is a critical contributor to ocean plastic pollution, necessitating global efforts to protect marine life and ecosystems from its harmful effects.
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Fishing gear accounts for 10% of ocean debris
Fishing gear is a major contributor to ocean pollution, with abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) making up an estimated 10% of all ocean debris. This includes nets, lines, ropes, fish aggregating devices (FADs), longlines, and plastic fishing crates and baskets. The issue of ALDFG is of significant concern due to its negative socioeconomic and environmental impacts, exacerbating existing pressures from overfishing, declining fish stocks, and climate change.
The term "ghost fishing gear" refers to any abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear that continues to trap and entangle marine life. It is considered the deadliest form of marine plastic, as it indiscriminately captures wildlife, entangling marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles, and other creatures. The impact of ghost gear on marine life has been well-documented, with reports of nets and lines posing a threat to wildlife for years or even decades.
The majority of ghost gear originates from industrialized fishing nations such as the United States, China, Japan, and Korea. These nations are the principal producers of the fishing waste found in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), an area three times the size of France and the world's largest accumulation of floating ocean plastic. A recent study estimated that the GPGP contains 42,000 tonnes of macroplastics, of which 86% is fishing-related, specifically fishing nets.
To address the issue of ghost gear and reduce its impact on ocean pollution, organizations like Greenpeace and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) have called for global action and collaboration. Greenpeace has highlighted the prevalence of ghost gear from illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing, as well as overcrowded fisheries. WWF works with fishers, government agencies, and other stakeholders to remove abandoned nets, establish gear collection and recycling programs, develop tools for better gear tracking, and promote more sustainable fishing practices.
Additionally, international organizations such as the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Maritime Organization, and the UN Environment Programme have implemented measures to prevent and reduce ALDFG. These include supporting gear marking and tracking, gear loss reporting and recovery, regulation of destructive fishing practices, and the minimization of pollutant use in fishing gear.
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Fishing gear is particularly deadly for marine life
Ghost fishing gear does not discriminate between species, entangling and drowning various marine animals, including whales, dolphins, turtles, sea lions, and even seabirds. It can also lead to the bioaccumulation of microplastics in the food chain, eventually reaching humans. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that 300,000 whales and dolphins die entangled in fishing gear each year. In another instance, 300 turtles were found dead in a single ghost fishing net off the coast of Mexico, wiping out an entire generation of turtles.
Ghost gear is often a result of illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing practices, as well as overcrowded fisheries. It is prevalent in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an area of plastic accumulation in the North Pacific, where it is estimated that 86% of the 42,000 tonnes of megaplastics are fishing nets. The majority of this fishing gear originates from major industrialised fishing nations such as the United States, China, Japan, and Korea.
The impact of ghost fishing gear on marine life has led to calls for global action and the regulation of the fishing industry. Organisations like Greenpeace advocate for the protection of global oceans and holding the industry accountable for its dangerous waste. Local and global efforts are needed to address the issue, including limiting fishing in certain areas and intercepting and cleaning up existing ghost gear.
While the exact number is unknown, it is estimated that ghost fishing gear is responsible for the deaths of at least 136,000 large marine animals each year, including whales, seals, and sea lions. The impact on smaller marine life is likely to be significantly higher, as ghost gear can trap smaller fish that attract larger predators, creating a cycle of entrapment and death.
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Fishing waste from industrialised fishing nations
A large proportion of the plastic waste in the NPGP is composed of fishing nets and ropes, with the rest consisting of hard plastic objects and fragments. Research conducted by The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organisation dedicated to removing plastic from the world's oceans, found that 75% to 86% of the plastic waste in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) comes from offshore fishing activities. This includes nations such as the United States, China, Japan, and South Korea, which are major producers of fishing waste found in the GPGP.
Ghost gear, or abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), is a significant component of fishing waste. It includes nets, ropes, lines, traps, and other fishing equipment, often made of durable plastics. Ghost gear poses a severe threat to marine life, entangling and trapping various species, including sea turtles, seabirds, crustaceans, and even whales. It can also form giant masses, creating navigational hazards and damaging crucial ecosystems such as coral reefs and seagrass meadows.
The issue of ghost gear is particularly associated with illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing, as well as overcrowded fisheries. However, it is important to note that the majority of gear loss is unintentional, resulting from factors such as stormy weather, poor storage, and gear snagging on the seafloor. The high cost of replacing fishing equipment also plays a role in the abandonment of gear.
Addressing the problem of fishing waste from industrialised fishing nations requires a multi-faceted approach. It involves implementing measures to reduce waste generation, such as transitioning to more sustainable fishing practices and improving gear storage and handling. Additionally, global collaboration and the involvement of major fishing nations in ocean cleaning efforts are crucial. Initiatives such as The Ocean Cleanup's Interceptor Solutions aim to halt and extract riverine plastic before it reaches the ocean, tackling one of the primary sources of plastic pollution.
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Fishing gear is a substantial contributor to ocean pollution
ALDFG, also known as ghost gear, includes any nets, lines, ropes, longlines, and plastic fishing crates and baskets that have been abandoned, lost, or discarded. This type of marine plastic is particularly deadly, as it can continue to trap and entangle marine life, including mammals, seabirds, sea turtles, and even whales. Ghost gear is estimated to make up 10% of ocean plastic pollution but forms the majority of large plastic littering the waters.
One study found that as much as 70% (by weight) of macroplastics (over 20cm in size) found floating on the ocean's surface was fishing-related. For example, an analysis of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an area three times the size of France and the world's largest accumulation of floating ocean plastic, found that 86% of the plastic was from fishing nets. Another study of the GPGP estimated that it contained 42,000 tons of megaplastics, with fishing gear originating primarily from major industrialised fishing nations such as the United States, China, Japan, and Korea.
The issue of ALDFG is of particular concern for fisheries' sustainability, as it exacerbates existing pressures from overfishing, declines in fish stocks, and climate change. International organizations such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme have developed measures to prevent and reduce ALDFG, including gear marking and tracking, gear loss reporting and recovery, and the regulation of destructive fishing practices.
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Frequently asked questions
Ghost gear is a term for any fishing gear that has been abandoned, lost, or discarded. This includes nets, lines, ropes, and other fishing equipment. It is a major source of ocean plastic pollution and can be deadly for marine life.
Fishing gear accounts for roughly 10% of all ocean debris, with an estimated 500,000 to 1 million tons of ghost gear discarded or lost in the ocean every year. It is the largest source of ocean plastic pollution in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, making up 75-86% of the plastic waste in that area.
Ghost gear can entangle marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles, and other wildlife, posing a threat to their survival. It can also damage coral reefs and litter the deep seafloor. The negative impacts of ghost gear are felt in marine and coastal habitats and can affect food security.
Organizations like Greenpeace and WWF are advocating for global action and calling on governments to implement measures to prevent fishing gear from polluting the oceans. This includes establishing gear collection and recycling programs, improving gear management, and transitioning to more sustainable fishing practices. Consumers can also play a role by reducing their demand for fish and supporting sustainable fisheries.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is an area of plastic accumulation in the North Pacific Ocean. It is the world's largest accumulation of floating ocean plastic, with an estimated 42,000 tons of megaplastics, of which 86% is estimated to be from fishing nets.
