AI Article Synopsis
- Ghost fishing occurs when lost fishing gear continues to capture marine life, posing a threat to aquatic ecosystems.
- A study tested a biodegradable twine made from PBS/PBAT for trawl fishing, revealing it’s about half as strong as traditional materials but still usable.
- After being in seawater for 3 years, the PBS/PBAT material showed significant degradation, indicating it could reduce ghost fishing by breaking down faster than conventional gear if lost at sea.
Article Abstract
Fishing gears are designed to catch marine species, but when lost at sea, they can continue to trap and kill aquatic life, a phenomenon known as ghost fishing. This study evaluated the use of a biodegradable twine made from poly(butylene succinate)/poly(butylene adipate terephthalate) (PBS/PBAT) in trawl fishing. The assessment included mechanical testing, trawl modelling, and seawater ageing simulations to explore potential loss scenarios. Mechanical tests indicated that the PBS/PBAT braid was about half as strong as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) but was suitable for braiding and netting. After 3 years in seawater, PBS/PBAT monofilaments showed biotic degradation, with strength losses of 20 % at 15 °C and 80 % at 25 °C. This suggests that gear made from this polymer would degrade faster than conventional gear if lost. Trawl modelling further demonstrated that trawl performance was only slightly affected by material change and ageing, highlighting the potential for reducing ghost fishing with less persistent twine.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117433 | DOI Listing |
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