Ghost net

A sea turtle entangled in a ghost net.

Ghost nets are fishing nets that have been abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded in the ocean, lakes, and rivers.[1] These nets, often nearly invisible in the dim light, can be left tangled on a rocky reef or drifting in the open sea. They can entangle fish, dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, dugongs, crocodiles, seabirds, crabs, and other creatures, including the occasional human diver.[2] Acting as designed, the nets restrict movement, causing starvation, laceration and infection, and suffocation in those that need to return to the surface to breathe.[3] It's estimated that around 48 million tons (48,000 kt) of lost fishing gear is generated each year, not including those that were abandoned or discarded[4] and these may linger in the oceans for a considerable time before breaking-up.

  1. ^ Macfadyen, G. (2009). Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear. Rome: United Nations Environment Programme. ISBN 978-92-5-106196-1.
  2. ^ Esteban, Michelle (2002) Tracking Down Ghost Nets
  3. ^ "'Ghost fishing' killing seabirds". BBC News. 28 June 2007. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
  4. ^ Kuczenski, Brandon; Vargas Poulsen, Camila; Gilman, Eric L.; Musyl, Michael; Geyer, Roland; Wilson, Jono (30 July 2021). "Plastic gear loss estimates from remote observation of industrial fishing activity". Fish and Fisheries. 23: 22–33. doi:10.1111/faf.12596. S2CID 238820992.

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