We head to Malta to take action on deadly ghost fishing gear
News
During a global seafood summit in Malta, our team will be removing ghost gear from a local wreck to illustrate the impact it has on animals and the environment.
It is a busy week for our Sea Change campaign: as part of the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI, founded by World Animal Protection), campaigners will be assisting in the removal of an abandoned fishing net from off the Malta coast.
Organised with GGGI partners Healthy Seas and Ghost Fishing, the removal will happen over two days and will involve specialist divers descending to a wreck where the abandoned gear is currently caught. The retrieval of this net will reduce the very real threat it poses to marine wildlife in the area.
This removal is coinciding with the SeaWeb Seafood Summit which will bring together industry leaders from across the globe.
The GGGI is hosting an event at this summit where members will talk about the gear removal and the solutions that we must put in place in order to protect our seas and the wildlife that live within them.
The removal of this net will also show people at the seafood summit a very real example of ghost fishing gear. It requires incredibly experienced divers and specific equipment to remove this piece of fishing litter which should not have ended up in the ocean in the first place.
We hope the sight of this ghost gear laid out on the dock will move industry to take action in order to protect marine animals and the environment.
What is ghost fishing gear?
Ghost gear, caused by extreme weather, conflict between different fishing gear types, accidental loss or deliberate discarding, results in significant economic and environmental costs. It damages the health of the world’s oceans and harms and kills many animals. Every year millions of marine animals are trapped, entangled and killed by ghost fishing gear.
How you can help.
- Join our Sea Change campaign and information on how you can get involved >>
- Whenever you visit the beach remember to remove any ghost fishing gear that you find. No matter how small it is, it will no longer pose a threat to marine animals.
- Learn how to identify ghost gear and other ways to help >>
Ghost gear damages the health of the world’s oceans and harms and kills many animals. Every year millions of marine animals are trapped, entangled and killed by ghost fishing gear.