Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) poses a considerable threat to our oceans and coastal communities. This gear, primarily made of plastic, includes items such as fishing nets, traps, lines, buoys, floats, and lures, as well as non-plastic components such as hooks and sinkers.
ALDFG can enter the marine environment through storms, operational mishaps, and illegal fishing activities, and has numerous harmful impacts, including damage to the seafloor, entangling marine life, and ghost fishing, where lost gear continues to trap animals. It is a significant contributor to marine litter, exacerbating plastic pollution by releasing harmful pollutants and breaking them down into micro-plastics that marine creatures ingest. Not only is this harmful to our environment but it also has economic consequences, such as gear conflicts, loss of equipment, property damage, increased clean-up costs, and reduced tourism.
The classification of fishing gear as ‘abandoned’, ‘lost’, or ‘discarded’ depends on the owner’s control and intent regarding the gear:
Abandoned fishing gear: The owner can retrieve the gear but chooses to leave it at sea.
Lost fishing gear: The owner no longer has control over the gear and cannot locate it.
Discarded fishing gear: The owner intentionally releases the gear into the ocean without planning to retrieve it.
To tackle this growing concern, SST is actively gathering data on ALDFG along the South African coast. This initiative aims to assess the scale of the problem and its implications, paving the way for effective action. We are grateful to our dedicated volunteers who have reported ALDFG sightings during their beach trips.
Recent findings indicate that abandoned fishing gear, including lines, ropes, sinkers, and plastics, is some of the most common type of marine debris along our coastline. This harms ecosystems and threatens the livelihoods of local fishermen.
Amongst the millions of commercial fishing vessels worldwide, Africa boasts the second-largest fleet. Artisanal and small-scale fishers support around 113 million people globally, making up 12% of Africa’s workforce. However, inadequate regulation in the artisanal sector limits our understanding of its impact on abandoned fishing gear and marine debris.
To address this, it is crucial to prioritise best practices for preventing, mitigating, and managing both fishing gear waste and non-gear debris from fishing activities.
With very little data on ALDFG in Africa, SST has developed Addressing ALDFG in Africa: A Best Practice Guide. The guide establishes best practices tailored to African conditions and was created through collaborative workshops and stakeholder interviews, including with local and international port authorities.
Addressing ALDFG in Africa outlines data collection methods, responsibilities, and reporting processes, and discusses fishing gear marking and modification, including biodegradable options, to identify feasible solutions for African fishers. Additionally, it features case studies of initiatives across the continent that are focused on gathering ALDFG data, raising community awareness, and developing innovative solutions for end-of-life fishing gear.
As a working document, the guide serves as a starting point for developing best practices for ALDFG in African fisheries, allowing SST and other organisations, governments and individuals to collectively strive for a future where the people of Africa and her seas flourish together.
Get Involved
Join our efforts to expand the ALDFG database by sharing relevant information. Contact info@sst.org.za to learn more and contribute. Submissions from all coastal African countries are welcome.
