Which Species Are Most Affected by Ghost Fishing Gear

/ General / By

Ghost fishing gear — nets, traps, and lines lost or abandoned in the ocean — poses a major threat to marine ecosystems worldwide. These derelict fishing tools continue to trap and kill marine life indiscriminately, causing significant harm to biodiversity and fisheries. Understanding which species are most affected by ghost fishing can help guide conservation efforts and technology development to reduce this hidden but destructive form of marine pollution.

Table of contents

Fish Species Highly Impacted by Ghost Gear

Fish are among the most frequently caught victims of ghost fishing gear. Lost nets and traps continue to function, ensnaring species vital to commercial fisheries and marine food webs. Groundfish such as cod, haddock, and pollock are especially vulnerable because traps are often deployed near sea floors where these species congregate. Similarly, pelagic fish like tuna or mackerel can be ensnared in drifting nets that pose indiscriminate dangers.

Ghost nets, often made of durable nylon mesh, trap fish that cannot escape and eventually die from exhaustion, injury, or starvation. The continuous capture of juvenile fish disrupts breeding populations and undermines fishery sustainability. In areas where ghost fishing gear accumulates, local fish stocks can decline dramatically, impacting both ecosystems and human communities dependent on fishing.

Crustaceans and Shellfish Caught in Ghost Gear

Crustaceans such as crabs, lobsters, and shrimp are heavily affected by ghost traps and nets. These animals are often targeted by fishers using traps, which can be lost or abandoned during storms or due to equipment failure. Because traps are designed to hold crustaceans until retrieval, lost traps become death traps, capturing multiple individuals over time.

Crabs and lobsters caught in ghost traps may die from injury or inability to access food and oxygen. The loss of large breeding adults can reduce population resilience and productivity. Shellfish such as scallops and clams can also be negatively affected indirectly if ghost gear damages the seafloor habitats they need to thrive.

Seabirds and Ghost Fishing Gear Entanglement

Seabirds are other victims of ghost fishing gear through entanglement rather than capture. Lost nets and lines floating near the surface can snag wings, legs, or beaks, impairing movement and feeding. For many seabirds, this results in drowning or starvation if they cannot fly or catch prey.

Species like albatrosses, petrels, and shearwaters are particularly at risk because they spend much of their time over open waters where ghost nets drift. These birds often follow fishing vessels and may mistake nets for feeding opportunities or safe landing spots. Entanglement causes severe stress, injury, and death, contributing to population declines in already threatened seabird species.

Marine Mammals and Ghost Fishing Gear Risks

Marine mammals such as dolphins, seals, whales, and manatees are vulnerable to injury and death by ghost fishing gear entanglement. Nets and ropes can wrap around their flippers, fins, tails, or necks, restricting movement and causing deep wounds. Entangled mammals often suffer from infections, impaired swimming, and increased vulnerability to predators.

Large whale species like humpbacks or orcas can become entangled in derelict fishing lines and nets drifting or caught near the sea floor. Seals and sea lions sometimes get trapped underwater in abandoned traps. Manatees entangled in fishing gear experience both physical distress and difficulty accessing surface air. These encounters increase stress and mortality, especially among endangered or slow-reproducing marine mammals.

Coral Reefs and Habitat Damage from Ghost Gear

Ghost fishing gear not only traps animals but can damage vital ecosystems like coral reefs. Nets and traps dragging across reefs break fragile coral structures, reducing habitat complexity and the reef’s ability to support diverse marine communities. Entangled gear left dangling can continue to abrade corals, smothering polyps and hindering growth.

Destroying coral reefs harms numerous species dependent on these environments for food, shelter, and breeding sites. Damaged habitats result in long-term declines in biodiversity and fishery productivity. Because coral growth is slow, recovery from ghost gear damage can take years to decades.

Turtles and Ghost Fishing Gear Threats

Sea turtles are severely impacted by ghost fishing gear primarily through entanglement in nets and lines. Due to their slow movement and the need to surface regularly for air, turtles are especially prone to drowning if trapped underwater. Ghost gear can also cause injuries that reduce their mobility and make survival in the wild more difficult.

Green turtles, loggerheads, and leatherbacks are the most commonly entangled species. Since many turtle populations are already endangered or threatened due to habitat loss and poaching, ghost gear is an added pressure that undermines their recovery.

Economic and Ecological Ramifications

The ongoing capture and mortality caused by ghost fishing gear have significant economic consequences. Lost fisheries productivity means reduced catch for fishers, both in lost target species and damaged management of stocks. Small-scale fisheries in coastal communities are particularly vulnerable, relying on healthy marine populations for livelihood.

Ecologically, the indiscriminate and prolonged mortality caused by ghost gear disrupts food webs and species population dynamics. Removal of key predators or prey alters ecosystem balance, sometimes leading to overpopulation of some species and declines of others. The damage to habitats like coral reefs further magnifies these ecological changes.

Efforts to Mitigate Ghost Fishing Impact

Recognizing these impacts, efforts to reduce ghost fishing are increasing worldwide. Technologies such as biodegradable nets that degrade if lost, GPS tracking of gear to enhance retrieval, and improved fishing gear designs to minimize accidental loss are being implemented.

Marine debris cleanup programs and “ghost gear” retrieval initiatives actively remove derelict fishing gear from oceans. Legal frameworks and international agreements increasingly require fishing vessels to report and dispose of gear responsibly. Public awareness campaigns also aim to reduce ghost gear pollution by encouraging better fishing practices.

How You Can Help Reduce Ghost Gear Impact

Individuals can support efforts to minimize ghost fishing gear impacts by:

  • Supporting sustainable seafood choices to encourage responsible fishing.
  • Participating in beach and underwater cleanups to remove lost gear.
  • Educating others about the dangers of ghost fishing gear to marine life.
  • Supporting policies and organizations dedicated to marine conservation and waste reduction.
  • Avoiding purchasing fishing gear made from non-biodegradable materials.

Every action helps reduce the hidden but deadly effects of ghost fishing gear on marine species and ecosystems.

n English