Marine

Ghost Fishing Gear and Marine Animal Welfare

Lost and abandoned fishing gear continues to catch and kill marine animals for years after abandonment, representing a significant and preventable welfare harm.

Key Facts

An estimated 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear is lost or abandoned in the ocean each year
Ghost nets trap seabirds, turtles, marine mammals, and fish causing slow death from starvation or drowning
Ghost gear removal projects have recovered thousands of tonnes of net from priority locations
Some fishing gear is now required to have biodegradable elements under new regulations

Welfare Considerations

Entanglement in ghost gear causes prolonged suffering and death for air-breathing marine animals. Fish trapped in ghost nets face oxygen depletion and predation. Prevention and active removal are both essential welfare interventions.

What You Can Do

Support ghost gear removal organisations such as Ghost Fishing UK
Advocate for mandatory gear marking and retrieval requirements in fishing regulations
Reduce plastic consumption that contributes to marine debris including fishing gear