Publication: Tangled Seas: A Snapshot of Abandoned, Lost, or Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear in South Asia
Date
2023-09-18
ISSN
Published
2023-09-18
Author(s)
World Bank
Abstract
In recent years, marine plastic
pollution has emerged as a significant global issue. At the
global level, it is estimated that 80 percent of all plastic
pollution found in the marine environment originates from
land-based sources and the remaining 20 percent from marine
sources. Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing
gear (ALDFG), colloquially known as ghost gear, contribute
significantly to plastic pollution in the ocean. Estimates
of the contribution to ALDFG vary based on model and
estimation techniques employed, and gear loss and impacts
also vary by gear type. The physical impacts of ALDFG are
well-documented and not only include entanglement and
capture but also ingestion. Abandoned, lost, or otherwise
discarded fishing gear, as with other marine plastic
pollution, can travel long distances via winds and ocean
currents before sinking, accumulating along shorelines, or
converging in large plastic patches in the oceans, such as
the one in the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem
(BoBLME). The problem of ALDFG is global, though it varies
in nature from location to location and is dependent on
various factors. The lack of comprehensive monitoring makes
it difficult to determine the extent of plastic pollution
from fishing vessels, namely fishing gear. The first step
requires the development of measurement systems and national
baseline assessments to identify gaps and interventions.
These interventions may take various forms, from enabling
the substitutability of gear materials, to valorizing waste
materials and providing better waste management systems to
incentivize behavioral change. While such interventions
present significant challenges, there is a critical need to
inform policy development and provide institutional and
investment recommendations to minimize the stream of plastic
waste from fishing and fishing-related activities.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“World Bank. 2023. Tangled Seas: A Snapshot of Abandoned, Lost, or Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear in South Asia. © Washington, DC: World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/40362 License: CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO.”