Incorporation of abandoned and lost fishing gear into the structure of Dendrophyllia ramea in the Atlantic coast of Portugal.

Plastic pollution poses global and societal concerns, especially from discarded fishing gear, threatening seabed environments like coral reefs. This study examines the incorporation of lost and/or abandoned fishing gear - specifically synthetic lines, and filaments - into the structure of orange tree coral, Dendrophyllia ramea along the coast of Portugal, in the North-East Atlantic Ocean. The specimens were inadvertently captured by local fishers (Sines and Cascais), with 6 % showing filaments inside their structure, raising questions about their potential impact on coral health. We discuss the implications of understanding the interactions between plastics, fishing gear, and corals, which is important for developing conservation strategies. We address the need for improved of measures aimed at reducing the impact of fishing gear on corals, emphasizing the importance of endorsing biodegradable fishing materials and supporting lost gear retrieval initiatives. Furthermore, we emphasize the urgent need to communicate these issues to both fishers and stakeholders.

A quantitative comparison of macro-plastic debris between undisturbed and populous coastal ecosystems of West Bengal, India.

Unmanaged plastic debris from both terrestrial and aquatic sources is causing havoc on Indian coastlines. Tajpur Beach and Haliday Island were selected as two distinct coastal ecosystems in West Bengal for inventorying sighted macro-plastics, aiming to assess their distribution and compare pollution levels. This study employs a comprehensive methodological approach, integrating field-based observations along with lab-based measurements, and information derived from geospatial analysis. Total 34 random points across two study sites were considered for the physical, chemical, and biological characterization of macro-plastics to assess their relative abundance. Areas with higher human footfalls exhibited greater accumulation of plastic debris, with polypropylene, either alone or in combination with polyurethane and polystyrene, identified as highly toxic. Fragmented plastic debris was prevalent at both test sites, yet undisturbed Haliday Island exhibited an abundance of less fragmented materials. Emphasis was also given on implementing appropriate management regimes to achieve plastic-free diverse coastal landscapes.

When Nature Requires a Resource to Be Used-The Case of Callinectes sapidus: Distribution, Aggregation Patterns, and Spatial Structure in Northwest Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, and Adjacent Waters.

The Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus, which is native to the western Atlantic coast and listed among the 100 most invasive alien species in the Mediterranean Sea, is attracting a great deal of interest because of its rapid colonisation of new areas, the significant increase in its population, and the impacts it may have on ecosystems and ecosystem services. Outside its natural distribution range, the species was first found on European Atlantic coasts in the early 1900s and was introduced into the Mediterranean Sea a few decades later, probably through ballast water. Currently, it is found in almost the entire Mediterranean Basin and is also expanding into the Black Sea and along the north African and Iberian Atlantic coasts. Based on a systematic review of C. sapidus occurrences, this study describes its distribution, aggregation patterns, and spatial structure in Northwest Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, and adjacent waters through a series of ecological indicators elaborated using GIS spatial-temporal statistics. The main results highlight that the species is expanding in the Mediterranean and adjacent waters, while in northern Europe, the population remains confined in some areas. Furthermore, the main species detection methods are analysed, finding that traps and nets are the most frequently used methods, and management suggestions are provided.

Citizen science through a recreational underwater diving project supports the collection of large-scale marine litter data: The Oceania case study.

In recent years, a growing body of literature on seafloor macro-litter has been produced worldwide. However, the spatial coverage of these studies is still limited and highly unbalanced, resulting in considerable knowledge gaps in some regions. To address this lack of information in Oceania, we extracted data from the Citizen Science project Dive Against Debris® to characterize marine debris collected by volunteer scuba divers on the coastal seafloor. Overall, the average litter density was 58.22 items/100m2, with plastics accounting for approximately 50 % of the total abundance and Single Use Plastics accounting for nearly 17 %. Notably, 36 % of the total litter abundance consisted of lost Fishing Gear including fishing lines, sinkers, baits and hooks as the most abundant debris items. To reduce lost fishing gear, clean-up initiatives by divers along with management actions such as education programs for fishermen, gear restrictions and the identification of designated fishing sites are recommended.

Economic impacts of marine debris encounters on commercial shrimping.

The commercial shrimping industry is subjected to myriad stressors that have led to financial hardships among industry members. One of these stressors is marine debris; however, there is limited understanding of the type and magnitude of impacts. Quantitative methods of estimating the economic impacts of marine debris on the commercial shrimping industry were developed. From June to December 2019, participating shrimpers submitted 393 daily summaries, including shrimping activities, marine debris encounters, damages, and impacts. The impacts of marine debris encounters were assessed from reports of daily damages to fishing assets, daily lost fishing time, daily loss-catch ratios, and daily catch losses. The results of this study demonstrate substantial negative economic impacts on commercial shrimpers related to marine debris encounters. About 17 % of shrimp caught were lost due to marine debris encounters, resulting in foregone total sales and job impacts of $3.2 million and 33 jobs in shrimping and associated businesses.

Effects of eco-friendly fishing gears on fishermen's welfare and sustainable fisheries: Lessons learned from Indonesia.

The eco-friendly fishing gears (EFFGs) have been widely suggested as fishing gears for sustainable blue economy development. This study aims to examine the effects of the utilization of the EFFGs of blue swimming crab (BSC) on fishermen's welfare and sustainable fisheries by taking Indonesia as a case study. The number of fishermen randomly sampled was 647. The method used to analyze the data was the Endogenous Switching Regression model. The results showed that factors that have significant positive effects on fishermen's decision to adopt the EFFGs are the membership of fishermen in fisheries groups, credit access to financial sources, decision synchronization, financial capability, and fishers' perception of environmental uncertainty. Meanwhile, the complexity of fishing gears and buyer pressure have significant negative effects on fishermen's decisions to adopt EFFGs. The results also confirmed that the welfare of BSC's fishermen is better off and received positive benefits for the preservation and regeneration of resources by using the EFFGs compared to the non-EFFGs. Therefore, the application of the EFFGs for BSC fisheries supports the sustainable blue economy development goals and needs to be recommended for other coastal areas in developing countries.

A cup half full: the first assessment on the distribution, ecology and need for conservation of the threatened Neptune's cup sponge, Cliona patera, in the Gulf of Thailand.

The Neptune's cup sponge is an iconic species found in marine soft sediment habitats in the Indo-West Pacific, with a history of overharvesting and extreme population declines. Access to SCUBA diving surveys has allowed for its rediscovery at Singapore, its type locality; however, with fewer than ten living individuals documented in the twenty-first century, the species is believed to be in need of conservation. Here, we share the results from surveys across the Gulf of Thailand, allowing for a documentation of 29 additional individuals, with information on their ecology and distribution. Of the 29 individuals, extensive damage or mortality caused by marine debris is recorded for six individuals, and one further individual is believed to be lost due to an unknown cause. Documented threats from the Gulf of Thailand differ from those in Singapore; however, low population sizes and poor connectivity remain a significant concern for the survival of the species.

Illegal dumping from ships is responsible for most drink bottle litter even far from shipping lanes.

Recent studies using bottles as tracers have shown that illegal dumping from ships is responsible for the rapid increase in drink bottles washing up on oceanic islands and at remote continental beaches away from local litter inputs. However, these studies have been in areas with moderate to high levels of shipping activity. I examined bottles stranded on the Pitcairn Islands in the central South Pacific, which are far from major shipping routes. Drink bottles from Asia dominated, with most coming from China. The top four brands (three Chinese and one multinational) were the same as at Tristan da Cunha in the central South Atlantic Ocean, which lies on the shipping route between South America and Asia. Bottle ages also were similar at Pitcairn and Tristan, indicating that vessels are the main source of bottles at both islands. Stricter controls are needed to reduce illegal dumping of plastics at sea.

Multi-stakeholder perspective to generate evidence and strategies for sustainable management of ropes from the fishing sector of Norway.

Marine plastic pollution is a growing stressor affecting both marine and terrestrial life. Plastic polymers are widespread in oceans, including sparsely populated Nordic countries. Norway, a fishing-dominant region, faces substantial plastic pollution from fishing ropes, which often end up incinerated, landfilled, or lost in the ocean, contributing to the ghost fishing problem. This research employs a static material flow analysis (MFA) to assess plastic mass flows and the recyclability of 15 rope types used in Norway's commercial fishing sector. Findings reveal that approximately 383 tons of ropes are lost annually in Norwegian waters, endangering fish species. Furthermore, only one-third of the rope types can be efficiently recycled using available recycling technologies, highlighting the need for circularity. The MFA and inventory-based ranking approach shows significant potential as a holistic decision support tool for industry and policymakers in exercising sustainable and circular management for ropes.

Large floating abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is frequent marine pollution in the Hawaiian Islands and Palmyra Atoll.

Abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is a major source of marine debris with significant ecological and economic consequences. We documented the frequency, types, sizes, and impacts of ALDFG recovered from Hawai'i and Palmyra Atoll in the Central North Pacific Ocean (CNPO) from 2009 to 2021. A total of 253 events weighing 15 metric tons were recovered, including 120 drifting fish aggregating device (dFAD) components, 61 conglomerates, fewer distinct nets, lines, buoys, and unique gear. The Hawaiian Islands were dominated by conglomerates and Palmyra Atoll by dFADs. DFADs were connected to the Eastern Pacific tropical tuna purse seine fishery. Windward O'ahu experienced up to seven events or 1800 kg of ALDFG per month. Across Hawai', ALDFG was present on 55 % of survey days, including hotspots with 100 % occurrence. Coral reef damage, entangled wildlife, navigational and removal costs are reported. The data highlight the large magnitude of ALDFG and associated impacts in the CNPO.

Coexistence of megabenthic assemblages and artisanal fishers: The case of Cap de Creus Marine Protected Area (North-Western Mediterranean Sea).

Artisanal fisheries, although considered less harmful, can still endanger marine ecosystems, especially in areas with long-standing tradition. In Cap de Creus, where artisanal fisheries has likely occurred for centuries, the status of benthic communities in fishing grounds was poorly understood. Through collaboration with local fishers, the benthic assemblages in three artisanal fishing grounds within Cap de Creus Marine Protected Area (MPA) were studied. Using video transects recorded by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), the diversity and distribution of species were analysed in relation to substrate type, slope, and depth. The study also assessed the impacts on these communities by examining marine litter, lost fishing gear, and the condition of gorgonian populations. The findings identified three megabenthic assemblages and revealed higher fishing pressure and impact in the Maça d'Oros area, likely due to multiple fishing guilds converging. However, the study demonstrated lower impact in MPAs compared to unprotected Mediterranean areas, highlighting the importance of coastal management.

Why, and where, is commercial fishing gear lost? A global review and case study of Pacific Canada.

Derelict fishing gear is a global problem, damaging marine ecosystems via habitat degradation and trapping marine life, thereby impacting fisheries. We conducted a global review of reasons for commercial gear loss, and used the findings to design a survey focused on coastal British Columbia (BC), Canada. We conducted dockside and on-line surveys of commercial fishers to record their experiences with lost gear across net, line, and trap gear types. The most common reasons for gear loss from the global review were interactions with other fishing vessels and their gear, marine weather, and snagging on submerged features. Survey results of 29 fishers in BC indicated that snagging gear on rough substrate was the most important reason for loss across all gear categories, followed by seafloor type. Other reasons for gear loss varied by net, line, and trap gear type. Understanding reasons for gear loss is important to reduce losses.

Polymer identification of floating derelict fishing gear from O'ahu, Hawai'i.

Discarded fishing gear (DFG) comprises most of the plastic in the North Pacific Ocean and causes environmental and economic losses. Building evidence on the material construction of fishing gear types is critical to develop solutions to reduce DFG amounts and impacts. We forensically assessed the construction and chemical composition of eight different gear types removed as DFG around O'ahu, Hawai'i. A thorough dissection and novel analysis was conducted including the documentation of gear constructions, polymer identification using attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry, and elemental additive detection using X-ray fluorescence. Twenty-six different polymers were identified, and most gear consisted of polyethylene variants or blends. This inventory of physical and chemical characterization of DFG can help future polymer identification of particular gear types through visual techniques. Additionally, it can aid in identifying sources of these gear types and promote recycling options.

Distribution of artisanal fishing gears with impacts on sedimentation and benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in Songkhla Lake, the largest lagoon in Thailand.

The present study investigated the distribution and diversity of stationary fishing gears in Songkhla Lake and assessed the effects of the most abundant gear in the lake, the standing trap, on sedimentation and the abundance of benthic macroinvertebrates. Our survey revealed that six types of fishing gear were used: standing traps, fyke nets, fish aggregating devices, seabass net cages, small traps and stationary lift nets. The type of fishing gear used depended on the depth of water. The density of installed standing traps reached a maximum of 357 traps/km2, which was the highest density of any fishing gear installed on the lake. They were mainly set in the middle part of the lake, where the water was less than 2 m deep. Sedimentation was examined inside and outside the areas influenced by standing traps. Sediment samples were collected with sediment traps in the northeast and southwest monsoon seasons. Sedimentation rates inside and outside the areas influenced by standing traps differed at some sites but the pattern was not consistent across seasons. Sedimentation rates were higher in the northeast monsoon season with the average rate 1132.32 ± 43.73 (mean ± SE) g m-2day-1 when precipitation and run-off were higher and 323.98 ± 10.68 g m-2day-1 in the southwest monsoon or dry season. Moreover, the proportion of finer clay particles was greater in the sediment from the areas influenced by traps. Benthic macroinvertebrate communities between the two areas were different. A bivalve, Potamocorbula sp., which dominated benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages, had a higher abundance in areas influenced by traps. The effects of stationary fishing gears on sedimentation and benthic macroinvertebrates highlighted in this study suggest that the long-term deployment of these gears may affect food chain dynamics in this lagoon system. Ultimately, a proper regulation of the use of these gears may be needed.

Implementing the voluntary guidelines for the marking of fishing gear in eastern Caribbean small-scale fisheries: An assessment of gear marking provisions.

Managing abandoned, lost and otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is a critical challenge that can be aided by the establishment of strong provisions for the marking of gear. This study presents an analysis of implementation of the VGMFG in Eastern Caribbean states. It provides a socio-legal review of this issues and an analysis of compliance and implementation gaps. Empirical data was gathered through interviews with 56 fishers in 2 jurisdictions as well as 6 national and regional fisheries management experts. Antigua and Barbuda's Fisheries Regulations provided the strongest support to implementation of the VGMFG, while neither Dominica nor Grenada had weak regulatory support for gear marking. Both fishers and fisheries managers in the region confirmed compliance and implementation gaps in the establishment of gear marking schemes, while regional fisheries experts highlighted the limited human, financial and infrastructural capacity of departments to effectively implement such schemes along with other ALDFG management measures.

Development of poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene succinate-co-ethylene adipate-co-ethylene succinate) (PBEAS) net twine as biodegradable fishing gear.

Nylon fishing nets have excellent strength and durability, but when lost at sea, their insufficient decomposition destroys habitats and spawning grounds, and pollutes the marine environment. This led to the development of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) resin for biodegradable fishing gear based on aliphatic fibers. Prompted by the low stiffness and elastic recovery of PBS, we introduced two additional components into the molecular structure of PBS: adipic acid and ethylene glycol. These two new components were combined with succinic acid and 1,4-butanediol, the existing components of PBS, to synthesize poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene succinate-co-ethylene adipate-co-ethylene succinate) (PBEAS) resin via esterification and polycondensation reactions of a quaternary aliphatic copolyester. Although the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of PBEAS are similar to those of PBS, it has excellent tensile strength, stiffness, elastic recovery, and biodegradability, with a low melting point for good production efficiency. These improvements are expected to allow PBEAS resin to be applied to gill nets for fish that require high stiffness, thereby expanding the use of biodegradable fishing gear.

The economic impacts of introducing biodegradable fishing gear as a ghost fishing mitigation in the English Channel static gear fishery.

We address the economic impacts of the role of Biodegradable Fishing Gear (BFG) as a mitigation measure for the ghost fishing impact of lost fishing gear, through scenarios based on industry interviews. We find that the use of BFG is a technical challenge and not an economic problem. The majority of costs to fishermen in terms of BFG use are not related to investment and maintenance costs rather the impact of reduced fishing efficiency. At the Channel static gear fishery level, we estimate the costs of implementing BFG to be as high as £8 million. If the issue of fishing efficiency was resolved (i.e. BFG was a like-for-like) then the large negative costs could be overturned to between a cost of £880,000 and a small positive benefit of around £150,000. Considering the negative environmental impacts of lost gear, the benefits of BFG use over traditional fishing gear would grow exponentially.

Fisheries-dependent and -Independent data used to model the distribution of diadromous fish at-sea.

A database of 168 904 hauls covering the period from 1965 to 2019, from 46 surveys containing both fisheries-dependent (fishing vessels) and -independent data (scientific surveys) were collated from across the eastern Atlantic (Greater North Sea, Celtic Sea, Bay of Biscay and Iberian coast) and Metropolitan French Mediterranean waters. Data on diadromous fish (the European sturgeon (Acipenser sturio), allis shad (Alosa alosa), twait shad (Alosa fallax), Mediterranean twaite shad (Alosa agone), European eel (Anguilla anguilla), thinlip mullet (Chelon ramada), river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis), sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), smelt (Osmerus eperlanus), European flounder (Platichthys flesus), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and the sea trout (Salmo trutta)) presence-absence was extracted and cleaned. The gear type and gear category which caught these species, their spatial location, and the date of capture (year and month), were also cleaned and standardised. Very little is known about diadromous fish at-sea and modelling data-poor and poorly detectable species such as diadromous fish is challenging for species conservation. Furthermore, databases which contain both scientific surveys and fisheries-dependent data on data-poor species at the temporal and geographical scale of this database are uncommon. This data could therefore be used to improve knowledge of diadromous fish spatial and temporal trends, and modelling techniques for data-poor species.

Ocean-based sources of plastic pollution: An overview of the main marine activities in the Peruvian EEZ.

Marine-based activities are a critical source of plastic waste into the ocean. This is particularly important in countries with a competitive fishing industry, such as Peru. Thus, this study aimed to identify and quantify the major flows of plastic waste accumulating in the ocean from ocean-based sources within the Peruvian Economic Exclusive Zone. A material flow analysis was elaborated to analyze the stock of plastic and its release to the ocean by a set of Peruvian fleets, including the fishing industry, merchant vessels, cruises, and boating vessels. Results show that in 2018 between 2715 and 5584 metric tons of plastic waste entered the ocean. The fishing fleet was the most pollutant, representing approximately 97 % of the total. Moreover, fishing gear loss represented the highest single-activity contribution, although other sources, such as plastic packaging and antifouling emissions, have the potential to become vast sources of marine plastic pollution.

The development of a derelict crab trap removal incentive program for commercial shrimpers.

Due to fishery-tailored gear, shrimpers are often affected by benthic marine debris, specifically derelict crab traps. To alleviate the impacts on the commercial shrimping industry in the Mississippi Sound, a team of natural resource professionals and stakeholders developed a derelict crab trap removal incentive program for commercial shrimpers. In three years, this program led to the removal of 2904 derelict crab traps from the north-central Gulf of Mexico at a total average cost of $35,595 per year to implement the program, or $53 per derelict crab trap. Results from this study showed the cost of the program could further be reduced while covering the same shrimping area, through the inclusion of fewer disposal locations and targeting active and engaged shrimpers. This program led to the removal of crab traps by non-registered shrimpers, indicating that the existence of the program and associated outreach could lead to improved environmental stewardship without an incentive.