Lost and abandoned fishing gear — ghost gear — continues catching and killing marine animals indefinitely. Retrieval programs and prevention measures address one of the most persistent marine welfare harms.
Ghost gear causes one of the most prolonged and certain forms of wildlife welfare harm — animals entangled in lost nets cannot escape and die of exhaustion, starvation, or drowning. The killing is not instantaneous — it occurs over hours to days of struggle. Ghost gear retrieval programs have removed millions of kilograms of lost gear from vulnerable marine environments, directly preventing ongoing wildlife mortality. Biodegradable gear components and mandatory vessel monitoring can prevent future losses.