AI Article Synopsis
- Abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) severely harms marine environments, and managing it in Atlantic Canada is complicated due to gaps in knowledge about loss rates, locations, and regulations.
- A collaborative study in Southwest Nova Scotia successfully removed 29,298 kg of ALDFG by working with local fishers and organizations, using towed grapples over a significant area of seafloor.
- Many of the retrieved traps were old, catching both target and non-target species, including significant numbers of lobsters and endangered fish, with an estimated $155,836 CAD in annual losses attributed to ALDFG in one fishing area.
Article Abstract
Abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), negatively impacts marine environments. Managing ALDFG in Atlantic Canada is challenging due to knowledge gaps on loss rates, locations, data availability/accuracy, impacts, and regulatory barriers for retrieval. This study removed ALDFG in Southwest Nova Scotia in collaboration with local fishers (with local knowledge and practical ALDFG removal expertise), government, non-profit organizations, and academia. A total of 29,298 kg of ALDFG was retrieved, including 24,630 kg using towed grapples covering ~3986 km of seafloor and 4668 kg from shorelines (comprising, 68 % lobster traps and 12 % dragger cable by weight). Traps ranged from <1 to 37 years old (median, 10 years). Traps continued to catch target and non-target species with 25 species released, including 652 individual lobsters (82 % were market-sized) and 57 fish (42 were species-at-risk). Based on estimated 2 % trap losses, annual commercial losses from ALDFG were $155,836 CAD in Lobster Fishing Area 34.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115013 | DOI Listing |
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