Otherwise known as ‘ghost gear’, ALDFG is the most harmful form of marine debris as it is designed to last a long time. Once lost, ghost gear can continue to catch fish targeted by fishers and it can entangle other aquatic species and damage marine and nearshore habitats. Each year, tens of thousands of traps and pots are lost or abandoned in the world’s ocean due to rough weather and strong currents or conflicts with other fishing vessels. Ghost gear is expensive to replace if lost and hazardous for fishers and marine communities to deal with.

In response to a need for information on this topic, GCFI has produced new fact sheets that seek to share pertinent information about ALDFG and to promote the adoption of best management practices for preventing and reducing the impact of ALDFG. These factsheets were designed by Deviate Design and developed in collaboration with the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) and the Caribbean Node of the Global Partnership on Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution (GPML-Caribe) through funding from Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The factsheets are available in English, Spanish and French.
Large Posters for Print English Spanish French
Small Poster Series English Spanish French

 

Managing ALDFG is essential to ensuring the future sustainability of fisheries across the Caribbean region and safeguarding people’s livelihoods and food security. The Caribbean Regional Action Plan to Prevent ALDFG (Caribbean RAP hereafter) was developed by the Global Ghost Gear Initiative to provide strategic guidance for a coordinated approach to managing ALDFG across the region through a variety of relevant best practices across prevention, mitigation and remediation strategies. The Caribbean RAP aims to provide a series of relevant recommendations for the Caribbean region offering a coordinated approach to preventing ALDFG in the region, safeguarding the future of the regions’ fisheries and the communities that depend upon them. Access the full report here.