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Eco-friendly Fishing Gear and Sustainable Materials: A Review
Summary
This review examines the shift toward eco-friendly fishing gear — including biodegradable polymers, GPS-enabled retrieval systems, and modular designs — as a way to reduce the massive amount of microplastic pollution caused by abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing nets and lines. Case studies from the EU, Japan, the US, and elsewhere show promising results, but barriers like cost and fisher awareness still limit widespread adoption. Addressing lost fishing gear is important because it is one of the ocean's largest sources of persistent plastic debris.
The fishing industry plays a vital role in global food security and livelihoods; however, its heavy dependence on synthetic, non-biodegradable fishing gear has intensified marine pollution, ghost fishing, and biodiversity loss. Abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) continues to trap marine organisms for decades, contributing significantly to ecosystem degradation and microplastic contamination. This review critically examines recent advancements in eco-friendly fishing gear and sustainable materials, with a focus on biodegradable polymers, natural fibers, recyclable materials, and innovative gear designs aimed at reducing environmental impacts. Case studies from regions including the European Union, Japan, India, the United States, and Norway are analyzed to evaluate the environmental performance, economic feasibility, and regulatory support for sustainable fishing technologies. Innovative approaches such as biodegradable escape panels, LED-illuminated nets, non-entangling designs, GPS-enabled retrieval systems, and modular recyclable gear structures are assessed for their effectiveness in reducing bycatch and ghost fishing. The key findings reveal a global shift toward biodegradable materials, smart fishing technologies, and circular economy models, highlighting a major trend toward integrating environmental sustainability with fishing efficiency. Despite these advancements, challenges related to cost, durability, fisher awareness, and large-scale implementation remain significant barriers to adoption. The review concludes that eco-friendly fishing gear represents a viable pathway toward sustainable fisheries management, but its success depends on continued technological innovation, policy support, economic incentives, and collaborative engagement among governments, researchers, and the fishing industry to ensure long-term marine ecosystem resilience and sustainability.