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Can biodegradable materials reduce plastic pollution without decreasing catch efficiency in longline fishery?
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Researchers tested biodegradable plastic snoods as replacements for nylon in longline fisheries targeting cod and haddock, evaluating whether the eco-friendly materials could reduce marine plastic pollution from lost gear without compromising fishing performance.
Longlining is a widely used fishing method. During longline fishing, some of the snoods connecting the hooks to the mainline are often lost at sea. Since snoods are made of nylon or polyester, lost snoods contribute to marine plastic pollution. Replacing nylon or polyester with a new material made of biodegradable plastics can potentially reduce macro- and microplastic pollution that is caused by lost snoods. In this study, we estimated the risk for snood loss in a longline fishery targeting haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus (Linnaeus, 1758)) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua (Linnaeus, 1758)) in Barents Sea. Further, we compared catch efficiency in this fishery for snoods made of biodegradable and nylon materials. No significant differences were found between the two materials. Therefore, catch efficiency does not represent a barrier for using biodegradable materials in snoods.
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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.
The effect of long-term use on the catch efficiency of biodegradable gillnets
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Researchers tested biodegradable gillnets over three fishing seasons and found they caught up to 47% fewer fish than standard nylon nets as they degraded faster over time. Despite lower catch efficiency, biodegradable nets could significantly reduce plastic pollution from lost fishing gear in the ocean.
Use of biodegradable gillnets for resource and marine environment conservation: assessing the potential application in Northeast Arctic cod (Gadus morhua) fisheries
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Fishing nets that get lost or abandoned in the ocean can keep trapping fish for years and break down into harmful microplastics that pollute seafood and marine ecosystems. This study tested nets made from a biodegradable plastic as a possible fix, but found they caught fewer large cod and became less effective over time, meaning more research is needed before these eco-friendly nets are ready to replace traditional ones. This matters because reducing plastic pollution in our oceans could help limit the microplastics that eventually make their way into the fish we eat.
Fishing efficiency of biodegradable PBSAT gillnets and conventional nylon gillnets used in Norwegian cod (Gadus morhua) and saithe (Pollachius virens) fisheries
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Fishing trials in Norway found that biodegradable PBSAT gillnets performed comparably to conventional nylon gillnets for catching cod and saithe. Biodegradable fishing nets represent a promising way to reduce the amount of lost gear — ghost fishing gear — that contributes to plastic pollution and microplastic generation in the ocean.
Marine biodegradation of otherwise persistent engineering nylons
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Scientists discovered that some common nylon fishing lines can actually break down naturally in ocean water, even though nylon is usually thought to stick around forever in the environment. This matters because fishing gear is a major source of ocean plastic pollution and microplastics, which can end up in seafood and eventually our bodies, so finding nylons that biodegrade could lead to less plastic waste polluting our oceans and food chain.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.