Chapter 10 - Ghost Fishing

In all of the world’s seas, oceans, and waterways, fishing gear is lost or abandoned resulting in derelict gear and contributing to the problem of ghost fishing. Derelict fishing gear can continue to fish and catch both target and nontarget species, and ghost fishing occurs when these animals become trapped and die due to starvation, predation, cannibalism, disease, or poor water quality. The problem and impacts continue to increase as fishing capacity and effort continue to increase. Traps, pots, and nets are the biggest contributors of ghost fishing. The overall impact of ghost fishing is often a function of time, which can range from days to years. As the derelict gear persists in the water, a decline in ghost fishing is common as the gear are damaged allowing release of organism, or when it becomes fouled, or buried so that new organisms cannot enter. Prevention, mitigation, and research efforts can help offset the global and regional impact of ghost fishing in our world seas.https://commons.wmu.se/lib_chapters/1016/thumbnail.jp