The term “ghost gear” covers a problem of plastic pollution, which terrorizes this ecosystem in the most deadly way

On this special occasion, this blog had the honor of collaborating with Manta México Caribe, and Parley México, to report on this problem and share some of the initiatives currently being carried out in Mexico to combat it.

What is it?

Ghost gears are any type of fishing gear or equipment that has been abandoned, lost or discarded in the marine environment and remains invisible to the naked eye. The name "ghost" reflects the unnoticed and persistent nature of these artifacts.

Consequences of these deadly traps

Annually, between 500,000 and 1 million tons of fishing nets and gear are abandoned or lost in the ocean, constituting approximately 46% of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch according to a 2018 study by the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF). Sometimes they break down into microplastics, ingested by marine animals, causing damage and exposure to toxic chemicals. The abandonment of these artifacts affects more than 557 marine species, including 66% of marine mammals, 50% of seabirds and all species of sea turtles, as well as sharks.

This debris damages crucial habitats such as coral reefs and mangroves, threatening food sources and the livelihoods of coastal communities and fishermen. Studies suggest that more than 90% of the species captured by ghost gear have commercial value, generating economic losses for fishermen. Additionally, these networks can represent navigation risks, affecting the propulsion and maneuverability of ships, causing operational delays.

How can we defeat ghosts?

Organizations such as WWF have raised their voices to demonstrate and promote actions that reduce environmental impact. #Nomoreghostnets is one of its campaigns, seeking to raise awareness among the population and involve them in actions aimed at preserving the health and well-being of the ocean. In 2015, the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) was established, a collaboration between governments, private companies, the fishing industry, academic institutions and non-governmental organizations. Its goal is to balance by 2030 the global tonnage of equipment lost to the ocean annually with the amount recovered, recycled and reused.

The GGGI has agreements with the government of Mexico through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mexico is one of the governments that addresses ghost fishing together with Canada and the United States, in the initiative “The North American Net Collection Initiative.” n the northern Yucatan Peninsula, Manta México Caribe, a member of the GGGI, is conducting research on the presence/absence and impact of ghost gears on ecosystems and threatened species within four protected natural areas. It is also working to create potential solutions and reduce ghost gear in the marine ecosystem.

Transforming a problem into an opportunity

The advancement of technology linked to the need to be at the forefront has led many fashion houses to decide to innovate and please the insatiable youth with sustainable designs, manufactured from these gears. Parley for the Oceans launched the Marine Debris Mitigation Initiative in 2022, which consists of the massive recovery of ghost gears and abandoned fishing nets from fishing communities in the states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Campeche and Yucatan in the Gulf of Mexico and Quintana Roo, in collaboration with the National Commission for Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) in 17 marine protected areas.

Parley México has been working in collaboration with nearly 70 government organizations, the academia, private sector and non government organizations. The participation of community leaders, local volunteers, fishing groups and tourism operators has been a crucial element for the success of the program. Recovered monofilament nylon gears are cleaned, shredded and recycled into Ocean Plastic®, which is a range of premium materials for the sports, fashion and design industries.

Companies like ECONYL use this regenerated nylon thread through complex processes, maintaining the same properties as the original nylon, using it in the textile industry. Samsung has used these gears for its most recent devices, on the inner cover of its S Pen and on the bottom speaker component. Ola México is a project dedicated to collecting plastic waste stranded in the ocean, transforming it into various compounds to give it a new use. Bureo has used ghost gears to make surfboards, skateboards, and collaborated with JENGA on a special edition of the popular game.

A silent problem that should no longer be silent

Ghost gear pose an urgent threat to ocean biodiversity. As a society, we must advocate for sustainable practices and technologies. The fight against ghost nets guarantees a sustainable future for all.