Ghost fishing refers to when fishing gear such as trawl ropes, nets and traps are lost or abandoned in our oceans and continue to catch fish and other marine animals indefinitely. This lost or discarded gear can entangle or trap both fish and other marine life long after it was originally deployed for fishing. The gear becomes what is known as a “ghost net” and continues to fish without any human intervention or control. Over time, ghost gear builds up shells, marine algae and other organisms which further increases its ability to trap unwary animals.

Trawl Ropes and Nets: The Scale of the Problem

Research studies estimate that around 640,000 metric tons of fishing gear is abandoned or lost in our oceans every year. Much of this debris sinks to the bottom of the ocean or drifts through the water continuing to catch animals. Pots, traps and gillnets account for many cases of ghost fishing as they are designed to entangle or ensnare prey. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear makes up approximately 10% of all plastic pollution in our oceans. This ghost gear has been found entangling and killing all manner of marine animals from sharks and whales to seabirds, dolphins, seals and sea turtles.

Trawl Ropes and Nets Impact on Fisheries and Protected Species

Trawl Ropes And Nets has major economic and ecological impacts. Marine life trapped in abandoned gear is unable to fulfill its role in the marine ecosystem and fisheries face declining stocks as ghost gear reduces populations. In some regions up to 65% of traps on the seafloor may be lost or abandoned gear, still trapping crabs and lobsters. Entanglement is one of the largest human-caused threats to many protected marine mammals and sea turtles. Critically endangered species such as Hawaii’s monk seals are particularly vulnerable as they are often found trapped in ghost nets with injuries or having starved to death. Scientists estimate that hundreds of thousands of marine animals perish each year after becoming entangled in lost or discarded fishing gear.

Regional hotspots for Ghost Fishing

Certain parts of the world’s oceans see disproportionately high levels of ghost fishing due to factors like severe weather, rugged coastlines, industrial fishing and lack of regulation. The coasts of Japan and South Korea have extremely high volumes of abandoned pots and traps on the seabed, catching crabs and shrimp indefinitely. Driftnet fishing has also left vast expanses of ghost nets drifting the North Pacific, ensnarin pelagic animals. In the Atlantic, the Sargasso Sea has such dense concentrations of ‘walls of line’ from lost creel and lobster traps that they appear on sonar equipment. The waters surrounding South East Asian nations are another hotspot, as weaker legislation and large fishing fleets contribute to high discard rates. Better reporting and removal of derelict gear is vital in these worst affected regions.