Tackling the ghosts in our oceans

Elizabeth Hogan World Animal

Marine Debris (SDG 14) 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear abandoned, lost or discarded in our oceans every year Persists in marine environment for up to 600 years Only 27% of ship waste is properly disposed at recycling facilities 50% reduction in marine debris on beaches can generate $67 million over 3 months

Food Security (SDG 2) Estimated global rate of loss to fish stocks: 5 - 15%

• 90% of large fish in global population were caught in last 60 years

• Retrieval of 10% derelict crab pots in Virginia yielded 13.5 MT additional harvest (27% increase) valued at $21.3 million

• 1 lost gillnet kills $20,000 worth of seafood Cost to retrieve net = $1300 10,000 gillnets lost in Baltic Sea each year 5% total cod catch lost annually 30% Greenland halibut catch lost annually

Applying the SDG Integrated Approach

Goal 3: Reduce deaths from pollution & contamination Ghost gear risks fisher safety via entanglement Goal 6: Ensure sustainable management of water Action on ghost gear minimizes the release of toxic chemicals into our waterways Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption & production Action on ghost gear will protect marine ecosystems & biodiversity, and provide re-use of gear material for economic growth

Image Courtesy of Pew Charitable Trust

Global View

The Solution

GGGI Mission and Aims Mission: To ensure safer, cleaner oceans by driving economically viable and sustainable solutions to the problem of ghost fishing gear globally

Aims: • To improve the health of marine

ecosystems • To protect marine animals from

harm • To safeguard human health and

livelihoods

GGGI Working Groups and UN Sustainable Fisheries Resolution • Working Group 1 o Standardise data collection and analysis globally o Use evidence to prioritise solutions in ‘hotspot’ areas

Paragraph 77: Collect data • Working Group 2 o Define best practices and inform policies

Paragraph 78: Analyze causes & successful policies • Working Group 3 o Catalyse and replicate on the ground solution projects o Promote solutions that are sustainable business models

Paragraph 79: Implement joint solutions

Next Steps

Role of the FAO • Committee on Fisheries

(COFI): July 11-15 2016 • Expert Consultation held in

April 2016 • Proposed technical

guidelines Marked gear can function as a tool against IUU as well as ghost gear reduction

Gear Marking & “Traceability”

Next Steps: Gear Recovery & Reuse

Next Steps Gear Recovery and Reuse (SDG 12)

Thank You

www.ghostgear.org