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Smart acoustic tagging and robotic recovery systems for ghost gear pollution
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Researchers deployed smart acoustic tagging and robotic recovery systems — developed in partnership with fishers — to track and retrieve abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear, which accounts for roughly 10% of all ocean plastic and poses severe ecological and economic harm.
Smart acoustic tagging and robotic recovery systems for ghost gear pollution Partnering with fishers, NETTAG+ delivers smart, environmentally friendly solutions to reduce ALDFG and the environmental impacts of fishing gear. Abandoned, Lost or otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) is recognised as one of the most harmful and persistent forms of marine litter, estimated to account for 10% of all plastic in the Ocean. (1) Predominantly composed of plastic, ALDFG can persist for long periods, posing several adverse environmental and socio-economic impacts. In 2018, the European Union (EU) (2) reported that at least 20% of EU fishing gear is lost or discarded at sea, totalling up to 11,000 tonnes.
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Smart buoy technology: a versatile platform for connected ocean operations.
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Researchers describe how smart buoy technology from Blue Ocean Gear brings real-time GPS tracking and sensing to commercial fishing gear, directly reducing ghost fishing by enabling rapid recovery of lost traps and nets that would otherwise continue catching marine life and contributing to ocean plastic pollution.
Derelict Fishing Gear – Removing a Source of Microplastics from the Marine Environment
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Lost and abandoned fishing gear in the Mediterranean is a significant source of plastic fibers that fragment into microplastics over time, yet the relative contribution of fishing nets versus land-based sources remains unclear. Targeted retrieval programs for derelict gear could meaningfully reduce one controllable input of microplastic fibers into ocean ecosystems.
Empowering fishers to tackle marine pollution: NETTAG+ solutions
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This study presents the NETTAG+ project, which is developing innovative tracking and recovery solutions for abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), addressing the dual threat of ghost fishing and microplastic release from degrading non-biodegradable plastic fishing equipment.
Ghost Fishing Gear: An Overlooked Threat in Marine Debris Management
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This review examines the problem of abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear, often called ghost gear, which continues to catch and kill marine life long after it is lost at sea. The synthetic materials in this gear break down into microplastics and damage ecosystems including coral reefs, seagrass beds, and seafloor habitats. The authors call for stronger policies, biodegradable fishing materials, and better gear tracking technologies to address this overlooked source of ocean plastic pollution.
An Integrated Approach to Assessing the Potential of Plastic Fishing Gear to Release Microplastics
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Researchers developed an integrated approach to assess how abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear releases microplastics into marine environments. The study found that fishing gear is a significant but understudied source of microplastic pollution, and the research provides new methods for quantifying microplastic release from different types of plastic fishing equipment.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.