Fishing gear is a major contributor to marine litter. ‘Ghost nets’ is the informal term for what is formally called Abandoned, Lost or Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG). These continue to catch both target and non-target species. They pose risk to boat operations; damage coral reefs and the seabed; and present a safety hazard for ocean users and resources. They comprise a serious threat to food security, long-term economic growth, the viability of marine ecosystems, and the development of a vibrant and productive Blue Economy.

As fishing gear wears and tears, it releases toxins and microplastics into the marine environment. Larger fragments of plastics are ingested by marine organisms; these are carriers for adsorbed contaminants that affect the food web through ‘biomagnification’. Old and discarded fishing nets further contribute to the stockpiling of plastics on land, where they take up to 1,000 years to decompose, leaching potentially toxic substances into the soil and water. Their impacts are of particular concern on the African continent, given that more than 200 million people in Africa rely on fish for high-quality, low-cost protein. About 12 million are employed in the fishing sector.