Fishery-derived plastic pollution: global inventory, eco-toxicological impacts, and governance challenges

Plastic pollution originating from fisheries constitutes a significant ecological and socio-economic threat to marine ecosystems worldwide. This systematic, narrative review synthesizes current global evidence to address several key questions: the primary sources and pathways of fishery-derived plastics, their ecological consequences, and the associated governance challenges and potential solutions. By analyzing recent scientific literature (primarily from the 2010s onward), we find that fishing activities significantly contribute to marine plastic pollution via abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), packaging waste, and operational losses, with estimated annual inputs reaching 640,000 tons. Composed largely of durable polymers such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), these materials can persist in marine environments for decades to centuries, gradually fragmenting into microplastics and leaching hazardous additives. Spatial analyses compiled from the literature indicate consistent accumulation patterns in nearshore fishing grounds, subtropical gyres, and deep-sea basins—driven by oceanic currents and biofouling-mediated sinking. Ecological impacts range from ghost fishing that indiscriminately kills marine organisms, to physical habitat degradation (coral reef damage), and the bioaccumulation of plastic-associated pollutants—including chemical additives (plasticizers, flame retardants) and adsorbed persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals—through marine food webs. Endangered species such as sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals experience high entanglement-related mortality, while benthic ecosystems sustain long-term harm. Socio-economic effects include reduced fishery yields, higher gear maintenance costs, and diminished market value of contaminated seafood. This synthesis highlights that, despite some regional management successes, a critical governance gap remains in implementing integrated, globally coordinated strategies that effectively connect policy, technology, economic instruments, and community engagement. Moving forward, research should prioritize long-term ecological monitoring, advances in cleanup technology, and circular economy approaches to mitigate this pervasive environmental threat. Achieving a balance between fishery sustainability and marine conservation will require sustained collaboration among scientists, policymakers, industry, and civil society.