Open Ocean Wiki

Ghost fishing refers to the phenomenon where lost, abandoned, or discarded fishing gear (often called “ghost gear”) continues to catch and kill marine organisms long after it has been left behind. Here are some key aspects and impacts of ghost fishing:

• Nets: Gillnets, trawl nets, and seines can trap fish, crustaceans, and other marine life as they drift or remain anchored on the seabed.
• Lines: Longlines, trotlines, and recreational fishing lines can snag and entangle marine species.
• Traps and Pots: Especially for crabs and lobster, these can continue to capture animals without being retrieved.

• Bycatch and Mortality: Marine animals including fish, seabirds, turtles, seals, dolphins, and even whales can get caught, leading to injury or death. This not only affects the individuals but can have cascading effects on population levels and the marine food web.
• Habitat Destruction: Ghost gear on the ocean floor can smother coral reefs, damage seagrass beds, and alter benthic habitats, reducing biodiversity and affecting ecosystem services.
• Plastic Pollution: Much of the fishing gear is made from plastics that degrade very slowly, contributing to the broader issue of ocean plastic pollution, which can further harm marine life through ingestion or entanglement.
• Ghost Species: Some species, particularly those adapted to live in or near the gear like certain crabs or octopuses, can proliferate in ghost gear, altering local ecological balances.

• Efforts: Focuses on prevention, mitigation, and remediation of ghost gear through global collaboration.
• Successful Programs:
  • Gulf of Maine Gear Removal: Collaborations with local fishers to remove substantial amounts of ghost gear, like the removal of a 10-ton gear ball.
  • Best Practice Framework (BPF): Developed guidelines for managing fishing gear to prevent it from becoming ghost gear, adopted by various stakeholders.

• Efforts: Primarily aimed at removing plastic from the oceans, with specific projects targeting ghost gear.
• Successful Programs:
  • The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Project: While not exclusively for ghost gear, the project has inadvertently collected significant amounts of fishing gear during clean-ups.
  • Interceptors: Deploying river interceptors to catch plastic waste before it reaches the ocean, which includes fishing gear.

• Efforts: Research, funding, and policy development related to marine debris, including ghost gear.
• Successful Programs:
  • Marine Debris Program: Funds projects for gear removal, like the New England Regional Fishing Gear Response and Removal Team, addressing ghost gear in the Gulf of Maine.
  • Fishing for Energy: A partnership program providing ports with recycling bins for fishers to dispose of old or damaged gear, preventing it from becoming ghost gear.

• Efforts: Develops guidelines and supports international policy to manage fishing gear effectively.
• Successful Programs:
  • Voluntary Guidelines on the Marking of Fishing Gear: To help in the identification and recovery of lost gear, reducing ghost fishing.
  • Global Fisheries and Aquaculture Research Review: Includes research on mitigating impacts of ghost gear.

• Efforts: Volunteer-based clean-ups of ghost nets, particularly in the Great Barrier Reef region.
• Successful Programs:
  • Reef Clean-ups: Regular expeditions to remove ghost nets from reefs, significantly reducing the impact on marine life.
  • Educational Workshops: Training and awareness programs for local communities about the dangers of ghost nets.

• Efforts: Advocacy for policy changes to reduce ghost gear through better fishing practices and regulations.
• Successful Programs:
  • Campaign for Driftnet Bans: Instrumental in advocating for and achieving bans on drift gillnets in certain areas, reducing ghost gear.
  • Smart Fishing Initiatives: Pushing for gear modifications that minimize bycatch and ghost fishing.

• Efforts: Engages in direct action, research, and policy advocacy to reduce bycatch and ghost gear.
• Successful Programs:
  • Smart Gear Competition: Aimed at developing new fishing technologies that reduce bycatch and ghost fishing.
  • Gillnet Buyback Programs: In places like Mexico, buying back old gillnets to prevent them from becoming ghost gear.

• Efforts: Focuses on sustainable practices within the lobster fishery, including ghost gear prevention.
• Successful Programs:
  • Gear Grab: Engaging local communities and fishermen in the collection and proper disposal of old or lost gear.

• Report Lost Gear:
  1. If you lose fishing or boating equipment, report it to local maritime authorities or environmental organizations. This can aid in tracking and potentially retrieving the gear.

• Proper Gear Disposal:
  1. Dispose of old or damaged nets, lines, and traps at designated recycling or disposal points rather than discarding them at sea or on the shore.

• Use Marked Gear:
  1. Mark your fishing gear with your name, contact information, or unique identifier. This practice can help in gear retrieval if it's lost and found by others.

• Participate in Gear Recovery:
  1. Join or organize clean-up dives or boat trips to recover lost gear. Many local organizations or marinas might have programs or days dedicated to this.

• Educate Yourself and Others:
  1. Learn about the impacts of ghost gear and educate fellow boaters and sailors. Awareness can lead to more responsible practices.

• Support Sustainable Practices:
  1. Advocate for or participate in initiatives that promote sustainable fishing, like using gear with quick-release mechanisms or biodegradable materials.

• Retrieve and Reuse:
  1. If you find lost gear that can be salvaged, retrieve it for reuse or proper disposal. This reduces the amount of new gear that might be lost in the future.

• Gear Maintenance:
  1. Regularly check, maintain, and secure your gear to minimize the risk of losing it during storms or rough seas.

• Use of Technology:
  1. Employ technology like GPS trackers for expensive or critical gear to locate it if lost.

• Volunteer with Environmental Groups:
  1. Volunteer with groups like Ghost Net Hunters or Healthy Seas, which have programs specifically targeting ghost gear.

• Reduce Bycatch:
  1. Use fishing methods or gear modifications that reduce bycatch, which indirectly helps in reducing the volume of gear used and potentially lost.

• Advocate for Policy Changes:
  1. Support or lobby for legislation that mandates better gear management, marking, and retrieval practices.

• Stay Informed:
  1. Keep up-to-date with local regulations and best practices for managing fishing and boating gear to prevent it from becoming ghost gear.

By following these recommendations, boaters and sailors can significantly contribute to the reduction of ghost gear in our oceans, protecting marine ecosystems and the sustainability of ocean resources. |