Work

Abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear ‘ghost nets’ are increasing through time in Northern Australia

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: The remote Gulf of Carpentaria (GoC) represents 10% of Australia's coastline. This large, shallow sea supports high-value fishing activities and habitat for threatened species, and is a sink for abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) 'ghost nets', most originating from fishing activities outside of Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone. With growing concerns about the plastic waste along the world's coastlines, we retrospectively analyzed ghost net sighting information from four aerial surveys across 15 years, to investigate whether densities of ghost nets are changing through time or in space. We found an increase in ghost nets, despite more than a decade of illegal fishing countermeasure and clean-up efforts in the broader region. This demonstrates that the input of ALDFG into the system currently overwhelms the substantial net removal activities. We make recommendations for improving monitoring and consider the underlying drivers of nets being lost to improve ghost gear management on land and at sea.

Source: Marine Pollution Bulletin

DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112959

Authors: Britta Denise Hardesty, Lauren Roman, Norman C. Duke, Jock R. Mackenzie, Chris Wilcox

Institutions: CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Centre for Marine Socioecology, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, James Cook University, Earthwatch Australia

Language: English

Topic: Microplastics and Plastic Pollution

Subfield: Pollution

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Life below water, Climate action

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,350