Driving Solutions to the Problem of Lost and Abandoned Fishing Gear Worldwide

www.ghostgear.org www.ghostgear.org What is Ghost Gear?

• ‘Ghost gear’ is the common name for abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG).

• Being purposely designed to capture marine life, “ghost gear” is the most harmful form of marine debris.

• Much of it is made of modern plastics that can last up to 600 years in the ocean, continuing to capture and kill marine life and fish stocks, and damage the marine environment for much of its lifespan.

WWW.GHOSTGEAR.ORG What Causes Ghost Gear?

DIRECT CAUSES

• Adverse weather conditions or strong currents • Marine traffic (shipping, transport, recreation) INDIRECT CAUSES unintentionally running over deployed gear • Spatial pressures – resulting in gear conflict & • Lack of disposal facilities resulting in vessel conflicts with gear • Inaccessible disposal facilities • Malfunctioning of tracking systems • Expensive disposal facilities • Snagging on submerged features or damage by marine organisms • Improper gear design or upkeep with repairs • Improper fishing methods • Intentional discard – linked with illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing www.ghostgear.org www.ghostgear.org A Global Problem

• In 2009, UNEP & FAO estimated that at least 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear is abandoned, lost or discarded in our ocean every year – this figure is likely to be much higher today.

• Ghost gear has become a huge problem in our ocean. Recent studies suggest that fishing gear could make up 46%-70% of the floating macroplastic in the ocean when measured by weight.

• An estimated 5-30% of global harvestable fish stocks (depending on fishery / geography) are killed by ghost gear every year, making ghost gear a major threat to global food security, coastal communities, and fisher livelihoods.

WWW.GHOSTGEAR.ORG WWW.GHOSTGEAR.ORG What is the GGGI?

Aims: • To improve the health of marine ecosystems; • To protect marine life from harm; • To safeguard human health and livelihoods. The Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) is the only cross-sectoral By: alliance committed to driving • Reducing the amount of gear lost in solutions to the problem of lost, the oceans; abandoned and otherwise • Removing the gear that is already discarded fishing gear there; • Recycling the gear that is recovered worldwide. or at end of life and promoting EPR. www.ghostgear.org A Global Reach

107 member organizations 15 supporting governments 6 high level global affiliates

1-3 participants

4-8 participants

9+ participants

GGGI Projects

GGGI / FAO Workshops

WWW.GHOSTGEAR.ORG Our Members

We have over 100 member organisations from the fisheries sector, industry, retail corporations, academia, NGOs and government.

WWW.GHOSTGEAR.ORG Our Approach to Ghost Gear

Catalyze and Build Evidence GGGI Replicate Leadership Solutions Working Groups Define Best Practice & Inform Policy

Expert Advisory Council

WWW.GHOSTGEAR.ORG globalghostgearportal.net Ghost Gear Reporter App

Best Practice Framework

• Comprehensive guidance document referencing all major actors in the seafood supply chain

• Guidance is across prevention, mitigation and recovery strategies.

• Designed to be incorporated into sourcing policies, CSR documents, fisheries management plans, seafood certification programs, voluntary guidelines, workshops WWW.GHOSTGEAR.ORG and more. WWW.GHOSTGEAR.ORG WWW.GHOSTGEAR.ORG

Contact Info Ingrid Giskes – GGGI Director: [email protected] Website: www.ghostgear.org Twitter: @ggginitiative www.ghostgear.org