WP3 Report Strategies for preventing gear loss in the Baltic Sea Vesa Tschernij Marine Centre/Municipality of Simrishamn Simrishamn May, 2019 Author Vesa Tschernij, Project Manager Marine Centre Municipality of Simrishamn Varvsgatan 4 272 36 Simrishamn, Sweden +46 414 819 166,
[email protected] MARELITT Baltic Lead Partner Municipality of Simrishamn Marine Center, 272 80 Simrishamn, Sweden Contact Vesa Tschernij, Project Leader
[email protected] +46 414 819 166 More information www.marelittbaltic.eu The project is co-financed by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme 2014-2020. The information and views set out in this report are those of the author only and do not reflect the official opinion of the INTERREG BSR Programme, nor do they commit the Programme in any way. Cover photo: WWF Germany Abstract This study is part of the MARELITT Baltic project with an aim to identify methods or ways to reduce the gear loss rate in commercial fishery in the Baltic Sea. The study was narrowed down to focus on bottom rigged gillnets to both enable an in-depth study of the characteristics of the gear loss phenomenon and look at one of the worst gear types causing “ghost fishing”. Today, the Baltic Sea fisheries are undergoing a major restructuring. To better understand its impact on gear loss, the study was initiated by assessing a fishing strategic context, which was used to characterize the problem and frame the need for prevention. Using the gained fishing strategic knowledge, the aim was then to look for relevant and efficient solutions to achieve the objective.