GHOST GEAR

Collaborative ghost gear retrieval & recycling in nova scotia 2023-2024

In collaboration with industry, academia, and government, we're working to prevent, reduce, and assess the impacts of ghost gear on the South Shore of Nova Scotia (Lobster Fishing Areas 33 and 34), Cape Breton (Lobster Fishing Area 27), Prince Edward Island (Lobster Fishing Area 24), and in Newfoundland (Lobster Fishing Areas 11 and 12). We successfully retrieved ghost gear from targeted areas, both at sea and along shorelines, and supported the development of waste management systems for the responsible disposal of end-of-life gear.

In 2023 a new partnership with Ocean Legacy Foundation was been established to assist with expanding local options for recycling ghost gear. We also continued to work with our other recycling partners, Sustane and the Fishing Gear Coalition of Atlantic Canada, to recycle most of the gear we retrieve.

WHAT IS ghost gear?

Abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), commonly referred to as “ghost gear,” makes up a large portion of all marine debris. It causes significant negative environmental, economic, and social impacts including habitat degradation, indiscriminate fishing and entanglements, decreased catches, at-sea safety hazards, and vessel damage. ALDFG is generated by unfavourable environmental conditions (like storms and bottom types), gear conflicts among fishers and other industries, poor gear condition, and inappropriate disposal at sea. Losses can be accidental, and fishers are not always at fault, as the marine environment is shared with other industries.

2023-2024 highlights

Shoreline and at-sea retrievals were conducted in SW Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, Newfoundland and PEI
1,265 tows over 85 trips searching the seafloor for ghost gear
5 islands and 10 mainland shoreline cleanups
35,149.2 kg of ALDFG removed
- 18,928.6 kg retrieved at-sea
- 16,220.6 kg retrieved from shorelines
45.6% of the debris was lobster traps and 15.2% was dragger cable by weight
17 different species released from ALDFG including 398 lobsters and 79 fishes and 1 bird
73.2% of lobsters released were market-sized in NS/NL and 71.8% in PEI