STOP GHOST
FISHING GEAR POLLUTION
One of the Mare Nostrum - End Plastic Soup projects dedicated to combating the immense and dangerous plastic pollution in our ocean.
REDES FANTASMA
Ghost fishing gear is one of the biggest threats to our ocean. Around 75% of the plastic found in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is attributed to fishing activities, while ghost nets alone contribute to 10% of all ocean pollution.
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At Redes Fantasma - Portuguese for ghost nets -, our mission is to develop and implement an effective system dedicated to removing and preventing harmful ghost nets from entering into the ocean. Our initiative is implemented around the coastal zone of Portugal, a critical part of the marine environment that needs protection. Portugal has a rich fishing tradition, and the fishing sector is still among the major economic activities in the country.
Ghost Fishing Gear: Lost or abandoned fishing nets, lines, and traps that continue to kill marine life, also called “ALDFG” (Abandoned, Lost and Discarded Fishing Gear). A large portion of plastic pollution in the ocean consists in disintegrated ALDFG.
Countless Marine Species Entangled: Many marine animals get trapped in ghost fishing gear, often leading to a distressing death, thereby contributing to the alarming decline in biodiversity.
Microplastics: Nets disintegrate into smaller particles and enter the food chain, polluting the entire marine flora and fauna. Resulting microplastics may reach humans who consume seafood, posing significant health risks.
The project
We are engaged in collaborative research focused on understanding and forecasting the potential placement of lost and abandoned nets in the water column and on the seabed. Through a holistic approach, we aim to tackle local ghost fishing gear pollution by promoting economic, cultural, and technological change and environmental regeneration. Our goal is to create a scalable system that can be adopted by local organizations in supportive partnerships with Rotary Clubs, so that our impact ripples wider. This initiative aims to reduce abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), supporting sustainable practices in the fishing industry. Our approach combines scientific research with practical action to tackle the problem effectively and has these key objectives:
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A healthy marine ecosystem with thriving biodiversity.
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Alignment of stakeholders to this objective.
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Sustainable implementation of marine regulations.
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Emphasizing prevention, technology, retrieval, and recycling.
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Strengthening fishermen’s livelihoods through sustainable practices.
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A technology-open and innovative approach.
To accomplish this goal, we are setting up four work-streams:
Prevent
Pollution
We believe in empowering fishers by offering quality environmental and economical education, incentivizing the behavioral shift, co-creating local networks and structuring profitable and reliable income and work opportunities.
Track Lost
Nets and Gears
We collaborate with technology and equipment providers in expeditions and campaigns to apply advanced tracking and locating systems for ALDFG using technologies like GPS, sonar, and others under real-life marine conditions. We rely on fishers and others ocean users to enhance real-time tracking through apps to report and track lost gear while promoting accountability and sustainable practices.
We offer our strategic partners an operational field laboratory to qualify and improve their equipment, ensuring field-tested solutions for the market.
Up-cycle and
Re-market
Our goal is to recycle ghost gear into new high value products. By partnering with industries for sustainable resource use, we aim to create a sustainable value chain. We aim to recycle and reuse facilities at fishing ports and create recognition programs for fishers who retrieve marine litter, to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Retrieve
Fishing
Gear
Our goal is to create expeditions in coastal areas to recover lost gear from seabed and water column (down to 50 m). We work with campaigns, fishers, authorities, and strategic partnerships for effective recovery and disposal.
We will coordinate and execute expeditions aimed at locating, retrieving, and appropriately disposing of abandoned fishing gear, thereby addressing the issue of ghost fishing. Additionally, we aim to organize beach clean-up initiatives with local organizations, especially after strong winter storms.
In parallel, through a combination of workshops with fishermen, campaigns, and strategic partnerships, we aim to advocate for stronger regulations and innovative solutions to prevent gear loss.
Our approach supports existing marine regulations, such as the Single Use Plastic (SUP) directive and Extended Producer Responsibility for fishing gear. And the SDG 14 life under water.
Facts about ghost nets
30%
Almost 30% of nets used in the fishing industry end up abandoned or lost in the ocean
400+
years
It takes ghost nets over 400 years to complete desintegrate
340
340 species of animals are in danger because of plastic pollution
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Who we are
Mare Nostrum –
by Rotary Club Arlesheim
The Mare Nostrum - End Plastic Soup association was founded on the initiative of a number of Rotarians from the Basel area, in Switzerland. The littering of the environment, especially the world's oceans, with plastic waste has reached gigantic proportions that we can no longer accept. This disaster is man-made. That is why we need to act quickly and efficiently.
