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Ghost fishing capacity of lost experimental gillnets: a preliminary study from Indian waters
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Researchers found that lost experimental gillnets in Indian waters continued to catch fish and invertebrates for months after abandonment, confirming that discarded synthetic fishing gear poses a significant and lasting threat to marine life through ghost fishing.
Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear contributes considerably to global marine debris. These lost gears, mostly made of non-biodegradable synthetic materials, persist in the marine environment for longer periods of time and pose a great threat to marine life by entangling and killing target fishes and other non-target species such as turtles, birds, and mammals, a phenomenon known as ghost fishing. Other environmental impacts include physical impacts on aquatic habitats, transfer of microplastics into food web, and interference with fishing. Information regarding the catching efficiency and catch rates of lost nets in Indian waters is lacking. Ghost fishing capacity of simulated lost gillnets is being reported for the first time in India. This study investigates the ghost fishing capacity of lost gillnets through an experimental approach at Aroor, Vembanad lake, Kerala, India. Simulation studies using purposefully abandoned shrimp gillnets (32 mm mesh size) were conducted to understand the fishing capacity of lost gillnets during two seasons (monsoon and post-monsoon) as separate experiments. The gillnets maintained their catching efficiency until the 15th day during the first experiment and up to the 50th day in the second experiment. Catches showed an exponential reduction over time in both experiments. A total of 251 specimens comprising of 27 species were caught from both sets of experimental nets, and the state of catch in the nets showed different decaying stages from the second day itself along with fresh stages. As the days progressed, particulate matter and detritus began to accumulate on the experimental nets, increasing net visibility and reducing their catching efficiency. The results of the study on ghost fishing capability will contribute to the development of strategies for reducing the effects of lost nets on the aquatic ecosystem and for suggesting improved management strategies.
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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.
The potential implications of ghost gear: assessing the catch efficiency of unbaited pots in the Holderness crustacean fishery
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Lost or abandoned crab and lobster traps in the ocean can keep catching and killing sea life for years, even without bait, because trapped animals become bait for the next victims. This study found that "ghost traps" still catch over a third as many crabs and lobsters as normal baited traps, meaning lost fishing gear isn't just plastic pollution, it's an ongoing wildlife trap that wastes seafood resources and harms marine ecosystems we depend on for healthy oceans.
The ghost nets phenomena from the chemical perspective
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This review examines ghost nets—abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear—from a chemical perspective, analyzing their polymer composition and how they degrade into microplastics over time. Ghost nets are a major source of microplastic pollution in the oceans and continue to entangle and harm marine life long after they are lost.
Biodegradable fishing gears: A potential solution to ghost fishing and marine plastic pollution
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Researchers evaluated biodegradable materials as alternatives to conventional nylon fishing gear to reduce ghost fishing and marine plastic pollution. They found that biodegradable nets caught fish at comparable rates but broke down much faster in ocean conditions, significantly reducing their long-term environmental impact. The study suggests that switching to biodegradable fishing gear could meaningfully reduce marine litter and the ongoing harm caused by lost or abandoned nets.
Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded gillnets and trammel nets : Methods to estimate ghost fishing mortality, and the status of regional monitoring and management
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This review synthesizes methods to estimate ghost fishing mortality from abandoned, lost, or discarded (ALDFG) gillnets and trammel nets, and evaluates the status of regional monitoring and management programs worldwide. Researchers found significant gaps in data on gear loss rates, ghost fishing duration, and catch estimates, highlighting the need for standardized monitoring frameworks.
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