Photos and b-roll of ghost gear HERE.

WASHINGTON – While Halloween is a time for tales of ghouls and ghosts, a lesser-known and more tangible threat haunts marine life below the ocean’s surface: ghost gear.

Abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) – commonly referred to as “ghost gear” – is a major contributor to ocean plastic pollution and, according to Ocean Conservancy research, is the single deadliest form of marine debris to ocean wildlife. When fishing gear is lost, it continues to trap and kill fish and other marine animals indefinitely, leading to an up to 30% decline in some fish stocks, disrupting ecosystems and threatening the livelihoods of fishers. Furthermore, as the majority of ghost gear is made from plastic, ghost gear represents up to 86% of floating macroplastics by weight in ocean gyres like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It also sheds microplastics that, when ingested, disrupt the digestive systems and hormones of animals – including, potentially, humans.

“While Halloween is only once a year, every day our ocean faces the pervasive threat of ghost gear that ensnares and kills marine life. By showcasing the severe impact ghost gear has on our ocean, we hope to raise awareness, spur action, and highlight the solutions to tackle this critical issue,” said Joel Baziuk, Associate Director of the Global Ghost Gear Initiative at Ocean Conservancy.

Ocean Conservancy’s GGGI is the world’s largest alliance committed to finding and implementing solutions to ghost gear. The GGGI brings together over 170 stakeholders, including 25 national governments and representatives from civil society, NGOs, the private sector, academia, and others from across the fishing industry to tackle ghost gear at a global scale. 

Joel Baziuk, Associate Director of the Global Ghost Gear Initiative at Ocean Conservancy is available to discuss:

• The threat ghost gear poses to marine life and fishing sustainability
• Solutions to ghost gear
• Local partners and projects in your region
• How Ocean Conservancy is advocating for global standards for ghost gear in the upcoming UN Plastics Treaty negotiations in November

HERE you can find Ocean Conservancy’s fact sheet on ghost gear.

HERE you can find photos and b-roll of ghost gear.

###

ABOUT OCEAN CONSERVANCY  

Ocean Conservancy envisions a healthier ocean, protected by a more just world. Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram.