Ghost Fishing Gear: The Invisible Killer of Our Oceans
The oceans have always been a source of wonder and fascination for people all over the world. They provide us with food, transportation, and recreational opportunities. However, our actions have also had a devastating impact on these vast bodies of water. One major issue that has come to light in recent years is ghost fishing gear.
Ghost fishing gear refers to abandoned or lost fishing equipment such as nets, traps, and lines that continue to trap marine life long after they’ve been discarded. These items can remain in the ocean for hundreds of years if left unchecked causing severe damage to the marine ecosystem.
According to a report by World Animal Protection (WAP), approximately 640,000 metric tons of ghost gear are added every year into our oceans. This number is equivalent to 52 thousand double-decker buses! Once this gear enters the water system it poses significant threats to marine life such as entanglement leading to injury or death.
Marine animals like turtles, whales, dolphins and sharks often get caught up in these nets which results in their suffocation or drowning. Even small creatures like crabs or lobsters can become trapped resulting in starvation due to inability move around freely.
Apart from harming innocent sea creatures, ghost gear also affects human activities like navigation and commercial fisheries industry because damaged boats or tangled propellers can result from accidental collisions with abandoned debris underwater.
So what is being done about it? Several organizations are working hard towards finding solutions for tackling this problem worldwide. For example; Divers4ocean project run by Ghostfishing.org works together with divers across Europe who volunteer their time and skills towards collecting ghost fishing gears from seas around them.
Another organization called Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) operates at an international level bringing together governments organisations industries NGOs academia experts etc.,to work towards reducing the amount of discarded gears entering the oceans through effective management practices better regulations and innovative technology solutions.
In conclusion, ghost fishing gear is a major environmental issue that needs to be addressed through collective efforts. As consumers of seafood, we can play our part by choosing sustainably caught fish and educating ourselves about the impact of ghost gears. Let us all work together to ensure that our oceans remain healthy and vibrant for generations to come.