Ghost fishing gear is turning into one of the oceans most devastating threats. Year after year, hundreds of thousands of tons of fishing gear: nets, traps, ropes, and lines are *accidentally* lost, abandoned, or discarded in marine environments. Once the gear slips away, either from storms, gear conflicts, strong currents, or deliberate severing — they continue to do exactly what they were designed to do: catch and kill whatever they encounter. Modern fishing gear is made of durable plastics like nylon and polypropylene. This means that the gear/materials remain in the ocean for decades, trapping fish, crustaceans, and other wildlife long after its owners are gone. This “ghost fishing” effect creates a deadly feedback loop where trapped animals die, attract new scavengers, and those scavengers become trapped as well, leading to continuous losses across multiple trophic levels.
The ecological impacts of this concept extend far beyond individuals. Ghost gear is one of the leading causes of entanglement for marine mammals like seals, dolphins, and whales. Many drown after becoming wrapped in heavy lines they cannot escape; sea turtles, seabirds, and sharks often suffer similar fates. NOAA has identified derelict fishing gear as the most harmful form of marine debris for marine mammals. In addition to the effects on charismatic fauna, entire habits can also be affected. Ghost nets often smother coral reefs, frequently uproot seagrass beds, and drag across the sea floor. This damages fragile ecosystems that takes decades or centuries to recover. As the gear slowly breaks down, it contributes to the global microplastic crisis, adding countless fragments into the marine food web, which frequently find their way into terrestrial beings.
The scale of this problem is astonishing when numbers begin to be looked at. Scientists estimate that roughly 640,000 tons of fishing gear enter the ocean each year, and in some fisheries, as many as 20–30% of traps are lost annually. This makes ghost gear a widespread issue across the world’s oceans, including in heavily-fished regions such as New England, where derelict lobster traps and gillnets are common sources of debris. Most losses are unintentional, no fisherman wants to lose expensive equipment, but without coordinated solutions, these losses accumulate and intensify the ecological harm.
Over the years, efforts to combat ghost gear have grown, combining technology, policy, and community engagement. Retrieval programs funded by NOAA and other organizations remove thousands of tons of derelict gear every year, while many fisheries now require biodegradable escape panels in traps so that captured animals can eventually escape if the gear is lost (though the validity of whether these materials biodegrade is heavily debated). Gear marking systems and GPS-enabled smart buoys help prevent conflict and make it easier to identify ownership. New technologies such as ropeless trapping systems, weak-link ropes for whale protection, and biodegradable net materials offer alternatives that could reduce long-term impacts. International partnerships like the Global Ghost Gear Initiative are also helping governments, scientists, and fishermen collaborate on evidence-based strategies to track, prevent, and remove derelict gear.
Although most people will never see ghost fishing gear firsthand, everyone can play a role in reducing its impact. Cleanups, support for sustainable seafood programs, advocacy for stronger marine debris policies, and education can all help bring attention to this often-overlooked issue. Reducing ghost gear is not just an environmental goal but also a fisheries management priority: fewer entanglements mean healthier wildlife, stronger fish stocks, cleaner habitat, reduced navigation hazards, and less plastic entering the ocean.
