A 40-feet-wide by 40-feet-deep ghost net was discovered off of Grand Cayman Island last month. Full of more than 30 dead sharks, fish, and other marine animals that had decomposed beyond recognition, the net was so heavy it took days to capture and remove from the water.
Unfortunately, ghost gear like this is all too commonly spotted, and can keep “fishing” for up to 600 years.
Ghost gear is the term for any abandoned fishing gear which continues to trap, harm, and kill marine life as it travels through the ocean. As of 2009, an estimated 640,000 tons of ghost gear was added every year to the oceans. This number is now undoubtedly worse.
In a vicious, interminable cycle, ghost nets and fishing gear indiscriminately trap anything in their path, thereby attracting all types of marine life including birds, turtles, sharks, seals, sea lions, and fish; predators and prey alike. Gill nets, such as the one recently discovered, are the deadliest of all gear, and inexpensive to replace — so often they’re just abandoned. In their path of destruction they catch some of the most vulnerable species, like the endangered Olive Ridley turtle.
A recent international report by World Animal Protection (WAP) found that over 90% of pollution encountered by marine life is plastic. Ghost gear is a large part of this; in fact, 71% of marine animal entanglements involve plastic ghost gear. Some plastics can last for 600 years in water, causing danger and harm to animals through drowning, wounds, and ingestion. 79% of entanglement cases end with pain and/or death for the animals. A non-decomposing gill net attached to plastic is a horrible prospect for marine life.
45% of marine mammals on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species have been affected by ghost gear. Illegal fishing nets, unmonitored gear, and inoperative traps are an increasing threat to the marine ecosystem. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing makes up between 20-32% of the US imports. 31% of fish stocks are overfished.
Initiating gear tracking and removal policies, mandating practical steps toward cleaning up the ocean, and using biodegradable materials are the bare minimum needed right now. But the fishing industry needs to commit to this. And biodegradable materials don’t remain in the water as long as other plastics, but they still can harm marine animals. The most certain way to make a lasting change would be to drastically reduce the amount of gear that enters the ocean overall, whether the material be biodegradable or not. Gill nets should be the first to go.
How terrible and cruel — we MUST clean up our Oceans — also HEAVY FINES for the shameful negligent who use our waters as their dumpsite.
The trouble is , , Money before everything. If people were more conscious of their eating habits we would have a better world
Can an international body not be convened, who would have the power and backing, to enforce every fishing boat that leaves harbour, register the number and type of net being carried on board. If one is missing, they must be fined 4 times over the cost to replace it. Wishful thinking!
The laws and enforcement for fishing netx snd ghost gear need to change now.
Humans have done to much damage to put oceans, let’s clean it up.
THERE MUST BE A WORLD-WIDE BAN ON GILL NETS/FISH NETS!
What is happening; terrible!
This has Got To stop
Humans are worst. We destroy everything.
Harder Punishment and control of fishing industry
Let’s Clean Up the Mess for the Sake of Other Species Who Have Inheirited the Oceans for Billions of Years!!!! Let’s Stop Our Perpetrated Extinction Actions Now Before It’s Too Late!!!
Tag the greedy fisherman gear so they are fined for using our Ocean as a Dumping ground for mercury poisoned fish.
One more atrocity committed by greedy, callous human beings leaving other creatures to suffer.
We read about these harmful acts the humans cause in the water. Please think before doing mine and your children need a better life too!
This should be banned worldwide
This is wrong. Do not leave fishing gears and nets in waters. It harms and kills the sea creatures. Go vegan ! The real answer ,
Disgusting.
We cannot keep killing our animals on land and in the ocean-it will be our demise
All nets should be permanently tagged before use is allowed and any net found unattended or as a ghost net should require strict punishment for the offender with massive fines and lengthy jail times.
Preferably they should be outlawed altogether.
WE NEED A WORLDWIDE BAN ON THESE NETS!
I hope that we can have to fishing industry look into this genuine concern and make some major changes.
I will keep following up on this story.
How can this be tolerated?
What goes around comes around!!we will pay the price one day!!!
All these need to be destroyed. They should never have even been invented. What a horrible way for these animals to die. Breaks my heart to think of the deaths and effects this will have on the ecosystem.
This brings tears to my eyes!
Despicable!
This is heartbreaking!