October 1, 2019 — So here’s an interesting question: How much lost commercial fishing gear still calls the world’s oceans home?
The simple answer – “Who the heck knows for sure” – would seem to readily apply. But now, thanks to a study published by Australia’s national science agency and data from 68 separate studies published between 1975 and 2017, we at least have an estimate.
“The study estimates that 6 percent of all fishing nets, 9 percent of all traps and 29 percent of all lines are lost or discarded into our oceans each year,” explained Kelsey Richardson, a doctoral student from Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization. “The type of fishing gear used, along with how and where it is used, can all influence gear loss by fishers.”
She said the most common reasons for lost – or, ghost – commercial gear are foul weather, gear being ensnared on the ocean floor and gear-on-gear crime (our words, not hers). And of course, there’s always the human element, that like our lobstering pal Doc Herrick, you just forget where you set the darn stuff.