Ghost Gear: Abandoned Fishing Equipment and Animal Suffering

Lost and abandoned fishing gear continues to trap and kill marine animals for years or decades. Ghost gear removal is one of the most direct ways to prevent ongoing marine animal suffering.

Key Facts

An estimated 640,000 metric tons of fishing gear is lost or abandoned in the ocean each year
Ghost nets continue to trap fish, marine mammals, sea turtles, and seabirds in a process called ghost fishing
A single lost gill net can trap and kill animals for decades before breaking down
Marine animals caught in ghost gear die slowly from entanglement, drowning, and starvation
The World Animal Protection ghost gear initiative has removed thousands of tons of abandoned gear globally

Welfare Considerations

Ghost gear causes suffering that is both ongoing and diffuse — invisible beneath the surface, affecting animals far from any fishing operation. Entangled marine mammals, sea turtles, and fish experience prolonged suffering before death. Ghost fishing also depletes fish populations, reducing food sources for other marine animals. Gear retrieval programs, fishing gear marking requirements, and biodegradable gear development are all welfare-improving interventions with measurable impact.

What You Can Do

Support World Animal Protection or Global Ghost Gear Initiative financially
Participate in beach and dive cleanup events targeting marine debris including fishing line
Advocate for mandatory fishing gear marking to help trace and retrieve lost equipment
Support research into biodegradable fishing gear that breaks down if lost
Pressure your government to fund and expand ghost gear retrieval programs