Marine Debris Entanglement: Wildlife Welfare Crisis

Marine debris entanglement causes severe injuries and death to thousands of marine animals annually. Understanding the problem helps identify the most impactful solutions.

Key Facts

Over 700 species of marine animals are known to be affected by marine debris entanglement
Discarded fishing gear — ghost gear — is responsible for the most severe entanglement welfare impacts
An estimated 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear is abandoned or lost in the ocean annually
Entangled animals include sea turtles, seals, whales, sharks, and seabirds
The Global Ghost Gear Initiative works with the fishing industry to reduce gear loss and promote retrieval

Welfare Considerations

Marine debris entanglement causes some of the most severe acute and chronic suffering in wild animals. Animals entangled in ghost fishing gear experience progressive injuries as lines cut into skin, cause infection, restrict movement, and eventually cause drowning or starvation. Sea turtles entangled in netting drown when unable to surface. Seals and sea lions develop deep collar wounds from monofilament that progressively tighten as animals grow. Ghost gear continues fishing and entangling animals for years after it is lost, multiplying the welfare harm of each lost net or trap. Eliminating ghost gear through mandatory vessel tracking, gear marking, and retrieval programs is among the highest-leverage interventions for reducing marine animal suffering from human activities.

What You Can Do

Support Ghost Gear Initiative and World Animal Protection campaigns to reduce fishing gear loss
Participate in beach cleanup events that remove potential entanglement hazards before ocean entry
Advocate for mandatory gear marking and tracking requirements in commercial fisheries
Choose seafood from fisheries certified for low gear loss and ghost gear management practices
Support technology development for biodegradable fishing gear that reduces persistence after loss