Ghost Fishing Gear Removal
Removing Ghost Fishing Gear from Rhode Island Waters
Abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear, also known as ghost gear, can have wide-ranging impacts on our marine environment. From ecological damage to navigational safety hazards and economic losses for fishermen, ghost gear is an issue with many potential negative consequences.
Commercial traps and pots are a primary gear type used by harvesters in Narragansett Bay to target lobster, whelk, scup, tautog, and black sea bass, among others. Fish traps and pots are referred to as ‘fixed gear’ as they are set in coastal waters and left to fish in place unattended. Fixed gear is susceptible to damage and loss due to boat traffic and tidal or storm events. In addition, Narragansett Bay supports many different types of recreational and commercial marine activities in a relatively small area, providing an environment particularly suspectable to fishing gear interactions and loss. It is not uncommon for recreational anglers to get a line snagged on this ghost gear, which can result in frustration and lost fish or equipment (while further exacerbating the problem when discarded fishing line is left behind). A side scan sonar survey of Narragansett Bay conducted in August 2023 found thousands of ghost fishing traps, emphasizing the magnitude of the problem.
Several years ago, commercial fishermen approached the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation (CFRF) with concerns over the amount of ghost fishing gear they were encountering in Narraganset Bay and offshore Rhode Island waters. The CFRF is a non-profit, private foundation established by commercial fishermen to conduct collaborative fisheries research and education projects that promote sustainable fisheries. To help address these concerns, the CFRF established and operates a comprehensive ghost fishing gear removal program that works with local commercial fishermen, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the University of Rhode Island, and other marine debris organizations to identify, remove, and recycle ghost fishing gear from Rhode Island waters.
The first step in the CFRF’s ghost gear removal program is to survey fishermen on where they encounter ghost gear and create a map of the locations of potential targets for removal. Guided by this map, the CFRF then conducts a side scan sonar survey in the targeted areas to visually verify the quantity and type of ghost gear. The sonar images provide the CFRF with details to determine the best method to safely retrieve the gear.
Since 2023, the CFRF works annually with local commercial fishing vessels to finalize a plan of action to remove targets based on fishermen’s knowledge of the area and the side scan sonar results. Depending on the type of gear being targeted, the CFRF use either a single grapple or multiple grapple system for removal. The grapple is slowly towed along the sea floor until it encounters the target debris for removal. The debris is then transferred to an electric hauler and brought on board the vessel. Everything that comes aboard is carefully processed by onboard CFRF scientists. We take photos and collect data on the category of marine debris, fishing gear type, the condition and age of the gear, any species observed in the gear, and other metrics that are included in the data collection and sharing plan. Over the course of this program, numerous ghost traps over 20 years old have been retrieved.
Once on shore, all retrieved marine debris is sorted; gear with property tags or workable gear is set aside so it can be reunited with its owner, while the rest of the gear is sorted by material (metal, plastics, rope, nets, etc.) for recycling or disposal. The CFRF has established partnerships with Net Your Problem, Mid-City Steel, and the University of Rhode Island to recycle as much of the ghost fishing gear as possible and explore new ways to reuse these materials. It is amazing what can be made using materials from recycled fishing gear, including artwork, clothing, and skateboards!
Outreach is an important part of all CFRF projects, and we host an annual “Ghost Gear” meeting in the fall to discuss with local communities the results of our removal activities as well as some preventative measures to reduce interactions with fishing gear. For example, depending on the target species, fixed commercial fishing gear is generally comprised of either a bottom trawl line with multiple traps or a gillnet. Since the gear is not visible from the surface, the location of the fishing gear is identified on either side of the line with surface buoys. Avoiding anchoring between these buoys can help reduce lost fishing gear.
While we continue removing ghost gear present in Narragansett Bay, we are also expanding our efforts and will begin working to reduce ghost gear offshore this summer. Stay connected with our ghost gear removal program, upcoming events, and ways to support our efforts by visiting the Coastal Fisheries Research Foundation website.
