Ghost Fishing Gear
The issue of “ghost fishing” was first brought to the attention of the world by the FAO Committee in 1985. Ghost gear is abandoned, lost or discarded fishing equipment that continues to capture marine creatures when the gear is no longer in use. There are 4 main types of ghost gear: gill nets, traps and pots, bottom trawl nets and longlines. Ghost gear contributes to 1/10th of global marine litter which is equivalent to 640,000 tons a year.
The effects of ghost gear can be fatal due to entanglement of, or ingestion by, cetaceans. Evidence that cetaceans interact with fishing gear can be observed first hand and also via scars left on the cetacean from unwitnessed interactions.
It is estimated that 372 whales, dolphins, seals and sea lions are killed by ghost nets every day. A recent paper reviewing 76 publications, found that 27 marine mammal species have been recorded as entangled, with humpback whales, followed by North Atlantic right whales being the main proportion of this total. With approximately 350 North Atlantic right whales left in the world, it’s critical to prevent any deaths caused by ghost gear.
The Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) aims to improve the health of marine ecosystems, protect marine animals, and safeguard human health and livelihoods. Launched in September 2015, it is the first initiative dedicated to tackling the problem of ghost gear on a global scale.
Whale disentanglement is both dangerous and complex; it is vital that nobody enters the water during a rescue and experts are called to the scene immediately. There are numerous networks worldwide which are highly trained to respond and rescue entangled cetaceans.
Principle disentanglement techniques are modifications of old whaling practices, such as kegging, which involves attaching large floats, or kegs, to slow the animal’s momentum. This allows the rescuers to keep pace and free the cetacean.
Previous studies have investigated preventative methods and several are currently being deployed to modify gear. Examples include: acoustic alarms to warn harbor porpoises of gill nets, weak links on the vertical lines which break to prevent entanglement, and replacing floating line with sinking line in-between lobster traps.
The GGGI’s strength lies in the diversity of its participants, including the fishing industry, the private sector, academics, governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. This global collaboration offers hope to reduce the effects of ghost gear on our oceans.
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