Collaborative Remediation of Abandoned, Lost, and Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) in Southwest Nova Scotia

This project is possible thanks to the financial support of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Sustainable Fisheries Solutions and Retrieval Support Contribution Program (SFSRSCP).  

2021 Project Updates
Highlights: 
  • First impact assessment of ALDFG in Southwest Nova Scotia
  • Lost lobster traps continue to capture species until escape panels fall off.
  • Of 15 species released, 5 were species at-risk, 67% of lobsters were market sized.
  • A 2% trap loss may contribute up to $176,000 CAD in commercial losses annually.
  • Baseline data will help industry improve ALDFG management.

WHAT IS ALDFG?

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 type), gear conflicts among fishers and other industries, poor gear condition, and inappropriate disposal at-sea.  Losses can be accidental, fishers are not always at fault, as the marine environment is shared with other industries. 
This project will work collaboratively with industry, academia, and government to prevent, reduce, and assess impacts of ALDFG on the South Shore of Nova Scotia (LFAs 33, 34, and 35 – Nova Scotia only) from July 2020 to March 2022.  This will be accomplished through implementing waste management systems for responsible disposal of end-of-life gear, retrieving ALDFG from targeted areas, and conducting an impact assessment of ALDFG during retrieval, with ongoing communication campaigns throughout the project. ​

objectives & methods

  • Equip 10 harbours in Southwest Nova Scotia with rope disposal bins. 
  • Fishers will complete 159 retrieval days in Lobster Fishing Areas 33 through 35, using grapples created by Clare Machine Works. 
  • Divert approximately 2,000 lobster traps and 22 tonnes of rope from high-impact disposal methods.   
  • Engage approximately 40 partners and apply new technologies to help manage ALDFG. Sustane Technologies Inc., located in the Chester area, will be recycling collected rope into diesel fuel and innovative mapping technologies will be used in partnership with Dalhousie’s Oceanography Department and the Ocean Tracking Network to improve the retrieval process by using side-scan sonar technology to clearly identify where lost gear resides on the seafloor. ​

partners 

Project Accomplishments

  • Installed rope disposal bins at 9 wharves in collaboration with Small Craft Harbours and Harbour Authorities.  
  • Launched rope recycling pilot and diverted 5,800 kg of rope from high and medium impact disposal methods in collaboration with Sustane Inc. and Goodwood Plastics.  
  • Retrieval vessels searched ~ 1,523 km2 of seafloor over 60 retrieval trips in LFA 33 and 34.  
  • 7,064 kg of debris was retrieved at-sea and an additional 3,574 kg from shoreline retrievals.  
  • Conducted a preliminary economic and environmental impact assessment of ghost gear in Southwestern Nova Scotia.  

collaborators

special thanks to:

For more information, please contact our Ghost Gear Project Coordinator, Jessie McIntyre at jessie@coastalaction.org

retrieval results

We've completed the first year of at-sea and shoreline retrievals (2020-2021). Click below to see what we found! 

at-sea retrieval

shoreline retrieval
We have launched our rope recycling pilot across Southwestern Nova Scotia. See below for additional information on the pilot program and responsible disposal of end-of-life gear.