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Fishing gear recycling technologies and practices









Last updated 23/02/2024, see Corrigendum


Sala, A. & Richardson, K. 2023. Fishing gear recycling technologies and practices. Rome, FAO and IMO.




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    Book (stand-alone)
    Report of 2019 FAO Regional workshops on best practices to prevent and reduce abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear in collaboration with the Global Ghost Gear Initiative
    Port Vila, Vanuatu, 27–30 May 2019. Bali, Indonesia, 8–11 June 2019. Dakar, Senegal, 14–17 October 2019. Panama City, Panama, 18–23 November 2019
    2020
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    FAO in collaboration with the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI), convened a series of regional workshops on Best Practices to Prevent and Reduce Abandoned, Lost and Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) between May and November 2019. The workshops which involved Government representatives, Regional Bodies, relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, the fishing industry and other regional stakeholders covered the Southwest Pacific, Southeast Asia, West Africa, and South America and the Caribbean regions. Workshop participants reviewed existing measures for addressing fishing-related marine debris in particular ALDFG, considered best available information that supports further development of best practices for the management of fishing gear, discussed provisions required within international instruments and identify region-specific challenges, opportunities and priority needs. The main objective was to increase understanding and awareness of the Voluntary Guidelines for the Marking of Fishing Gear (VGMFG) and relevant best practice as outlined in the GGGI’s Best Practice Framework for the Management of Fishing Gear (BPF). The main output of the workshops were a set of recommendations to inform next steps to be taken towards the development of national action plans or strategies to align, as appropriate, policies, legislation, systems and operations to the provisions of the VGMFG and the BPF, which will support the implementation of regional action plans to address marine litter from sea-based activities, especially ALDFG.
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    Legal aspects of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear 2022
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    The growing quantity of plastic waste in the marine environment including abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is a global problem. A particular feature of ALDFG is the potential of some gears to carry on fishing for many months or even years. The study examines legal responses to ALDFG in the context of marine fisheries. After discussing the nature of the problem of ALDFG and some of the reasons why fishing gear is abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded, the study examines the response of the international community to ALDFG. A key finding is that ALDFG is at the same time, a fishing issue, a navigation problem (of vessel source pollution) and an environmental problem with the resulting involvement of FAO, IMO and UNEP as well as the UN General Assembly. After examining potential legal approaches to the problem, the study then describes the basic legal and institutional arrangements in four case study jurisdictions that have adopted legal measures to address ALDFG, namely Australia, the European Union and its Member States, Norway and the USA finding once again the tripartite responsibility of fisheries, navigation and environment ministries/agencies. The inter-sectoral nature of ALDFG suggests the need for a collaborative and coordinated approach. While not all of the case study jurisdictions make use of all ten of the individual legal measures identified, the case studies also clearly show that ALDFG is a problem that is susceptible to a legal response at the national or regional level including through the use of extended producer responsibility schemes, various reporting requirements and gear standards. Legal tools to address the problem of ALDFG clearly exist. The extent to which some, or all, of them are necessary or appropriate in a given context at national, regional or global level is not ultimately a legal question but a political one.
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    Report on good practices to prevent and reduce marine plastic litter from fishing activities 2022
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    Whilst conjecture remains regarding the quantity of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) entering the ocean, ALDFG is recognised as the most harmful form of marine plastic litter irrespective of whether it has been intentionally discarded or accidentally lost – harming vulnerable species, damaging fragile habitats as well as creating navigational hazards and depleting fish stocks. In turn, if left unmanaged, ALDFG can threaten food security, livelihoods and human health. In order to determine good practices to manage and ultimately prevent ALDFG, it is essential to understand the context of the current situation including sources, drivers and impacts of ALDFG. Here, we provide an overview of the status of the fishing related marine plastic litter problem, specifically ALDFG or “ghost gear”, and situate its impact and contribution to the broader sea-based marine plastic litter issue. A key component to successfully manage ALDFG, is heeding lessons learned from existing projects that are in place around the world, acknowledging that management strategies vary significantly across geographies and their application locally must be considered with local circumstances/needs. Using the good practice categories identified by the Global Ghost Gear Initiative’s Best Practice Framework for the Management of Fishing Gear for Capture Fisheries, ten case studies are presented exemplifying key good practices for the prevention, mitigation and remediation of ALDFG. Based on the good practices identified from the case studies included and the broader global context of the ALDFG problem, this report provide recommendations of mechanisms that can be implemented by GloLitter participating countries and others aiming to prevent, mitigate and remediate fishing related marine plastic litter.

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