In Norway, the Institute of Marine Research and Green Bay have been working to remove ghost gear along the Norwegian coastline since 2019, with funding from The Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund. They have removed more than 10,000 items of ghost gear, and diving clubs have removed even more. In addition to the cleanup work, estimates have also been made of how much has been lost – on the stretch from the Swedish border to Lindesnes alone, it is estimated that at least 100,000 fish traps have been lost.
The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries is also making a formidable effort to remove ghost gear far out at sea. Every year, they remove thousands of items of ghost gear and many kilometres of rope. Norway is a pioneer in the cleanup of ghost gear, and this work has inspired projects in other parts of the world.
International testing in Thailand
To investigate whether the methods used in Norway can work in other countries, researchers from the Institute of Marine Research and drone pilots from Green Bay travelled to Thailand. In collaboration with SEAFDEC (Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center), the Thai Department of Fisheries and the Coastal Department, they carried out a three-day expedition on board a converted fishing vessel.
All the Thai crew members on board received training in the use of underwater drones and learned how they could remove fish traps using the drone’s claw. During the expedition, they found large quantities of lost octopus traps, as well as some large marine traps used for fishing. Puffer fish, sea urchins and octopuses were all given a new chance.
• Globally, ghost gear is estimated to account for at least 10% of marine litter. This means that between 500,000 and 1 million tonnes of fishing gear are left in the sea every year.
• Nets, lines and ropes from the fishing and shipping industries account for at least 46% of the 45,000–129,000 tonnes of plastic waste floating in the North Pacific Gyre.
• Marine plastic waste affects 66% of marine mammals, 50% of seabirds and all species of sea turtles.
Can the methods be used globally?
There was no doubt that the methods used in Norway can also be applied in other parts of the world, including tropical areas such as Thailand. In Thailand, the focus would probably be more on specific areas, such as coral reefs, where nets and equipment often get caught.
Combating ghost fishing requires international cooperation, and Norway and The Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund are key players in the work to find solutions. With modern technology, research-based methods and collaboration across borders, we can reduce ghost fishing and protect the marine ecosystem for the future.
