Abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear (Secondary)
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Lesson duration is: 45 minIntroduction
Overfishing is emptying the ocean, with 90% of fisheries already overfished. Issues such as by-catch are having a significant impact on marine wildlife. This includes entanglement in Abandoned, Lost and Discarded commercial fishing gear.
Instructions
In this lesson we explain the issue of abandoned, lost and discarded (ALD) fishing gear by the commercial fishing industry and the impact it has on marine wildlife.
Time: 45 minutes
Contact: education@seashepherdglobal.org
© Sea Shepherd 2021
Time: 45 minutes
Contact: education@seashepherdglobal.org
© Sea Shepherd 2021
Instructions
Worksheets
Items in this lesson
Slide 1 - Slide
This lesson is provided by Sea Shepherd. Sea Shepherd was founded in 1977 and is a marine conservation organisation working to protect the oceans and marine wildlife. Sea Shepherd works globally on a range of issues impacting the oceans, running numerous direct action campaigns each year. Ocean pollution is one area Sea Shepherd is working on to help stop marine wildlife dying.
Slide 2 - Slide
During the lesson we will use these icons to identify the learning actions.
Slide 3 - Slide
In this lesson we explain the issue of abandoned, lost and discarded (ALD) fishing gear by the commercial fishing industry and the impact it has on marine wildlife.
INTERACTIVE JOIN – ask students to go to www.LessonUp.app
INTERACTIVE JOIN – ask students to go to www.LessonUp.app
What do you already know
about abandoned, lost and
discarded fishing gear?
about abandoned, lost and
discarded fishing gear?
Slide 4 - Mind map
What do you already know?
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.
“What do you already know about abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear?”
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.
“What do you already know about abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear?”
Slide 5 - Video
Empty ocean by 2050
Scientists estimate that by 2050 the ocean ecosystem will be on the verge of collapse, empty of fish and marine wildlife, unless urgent action is taken on the issues impacting on the oceans and marine wildlife.
Show this video (2.53min), which explains how important all species are to our planet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLcA31VRlRU
Discuss the video with the class and what it means.
Scientists estimate that by 2050 the ocean ecosystem will be on the verge of collapse, empty of fish and marine wildlife, unless urgent action is taken on the issues impacting on the oceans and marine wildlife.
Show this video (2.53min), which explains how important all species are to our planet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLcA31VRlRU
Discuss the video with the class and what it means.
Slide 6 - Slide
ALD fishing gear
One area contributing to marine wildlife deaths and significantly contributing to plastic pollution in the ocean is abandoned, lost and discarded (ALD) fishing gear from commercial fishing vessels.
These nets are also referred to as ‘ghost’ nets, because they float in the ocean for years to come, haunting and killing marine wildlife.
One area contributing to marine wildlife deaths and significantly contributing to plastic pollution in the ocean is abandoned, lost and discarded (ALD) fishing gear from commercial fishing vessels.
These nets are also referred to as ‘ghost’ nets, because they float in the ocean for years to come, haunting and killing marine wildlife.
Slide 7 - Slide
Innocent victims
Over 150,000 whales, dolphins and seals are killed by ghost nets each year.
Over 200,000 sea birds are killed by ghost nets each year.
Over 150,000 whales, dolphins and seals are killed by ghost nets each year.
Over 200,000 sea birds are killed by ghost nets each year.
Slide 8 - Slide
Over 640,000 tonnes of ALD gear each year
Every year the commercial fishing industry, both legal and illegal, is responsible for over 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear abandoned, lost or discarded into the ocean.
An estimated 1,250 kilometres (776.7 miles) of net are lost in UK deep water fisheries alone every year.
Every year the commercial fishing industry, both legal and illegal, is responsible for over 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear abandoned, lost or discarded into the ocean.
An estimated 1,250 kilometres (776.7 miles) of net are lost in UK deep water fisheries alone every year.
Why or how
do you think fishing gear is
abandoned, lost or discarded?
do you think fishing gear is
abandoned, lost or discarded?
Slide 9 - Mind map
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.
“Why or how do you think fishing gear is abandoned, lost or discard?”
“Why or how do you think fishing gear is abandoned, lost or discard?”
Slide 10 - Slide
What does ALD mean?
Abandoned – means the deliberate non retrieval of fishing gear.
Which means the nets or lines are in the water but they choose not to retrieve them.
Abandoned – means the deliberate non retrieval of fishing gear.
Which means the nets or lines are in the water but they choose not to retrieve them.
Why do you think fishing gear
might be abandoned?
Slide 11 - Open question
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.
“Why do you think fishing gear might be abandoned?”
“Why do you think fishing gear might be abandoned?”
Slide 12 - Slide
Abandoned fishing gear
Nets are abandoned mainly because of law enforcement pressure:
➢ IUU fishing – gear left behind as illegal fishing vessels flee from law enforcement
➢ Illegal gear – left behind before going into port in case they are inspected.
➢ Too much gear to collect – leave behind if they run out of time to collect.
Nets are abandoned mainly because of law enforcement pressure:
➢ IUU fishing – gear left behind as illegal fishing vessels flee from law enforcement
➢ Illegal gear – left behind before going into port in case they are inspected.
➢ Too much gear to collect – leave behind if they run out of time to collect.
Slide 13 - Slide
Lost fishing gear
Lost – means that the fishing gear is accidentally lost at sea.
Lost – means that the fishing gear is accidentally lost at sea.
Slide 14 - Slide
How is fishing gear lost?
This is due mainly to spatial and environmental conditions:
➢ Conflict between fishing gear – this may be because it becomes entangled with someone else’s gear or another vessel (ie gillnets fixed in place caught by a vessel trawling/towing nets).
➢ The fishing gear is misplaced – unintentionally lost, nets loose buoys / floats or move with bad weather.
➢ Poor ground – nets or lines may be caught and can’t be retrieved – caught on rocks or reef systems.
➢ Extreme weather – gear is lost during bad weather or has to be left when fishing vessels flee to escape the storm – break free or have to be cut free.
This is due mainly to spatial and environmental conditions:
➢ Conflict between fishing gear – this may be because it becomes entangled with someone else’s gear or another vessel (ie gillnets fixed in place caught by a vessel trawling/towing nets).
➢ The fishing gear is misplaced – unintentionally lost, nets loose buoys / floats or move with bad weather.
➢ Poor ground – nets or lines may be caught and can’t be retrieved – caught on rocks or reef systems.
➢ Extreme weather – gear is lost during bad weather or has to be left when fishing vessels flee to escape the storm – break free or have to be cut free.
Slide 15 - Slide
Discarded fishing gear
Discarded – is the deliberate disposal at sea of fishing gear.
This is gear that might be on the ships decks and they choose to dump it overboard.
Discarded – is the deliberate disposal at sea of fishing gear.
This is gear that might be on the ships decks and they choose to dump it overboard.
Slide 16 - Slide
Why is fishing gear discarded?
This can occur due to operational / economic pressure:
➢ The vessel may have too much gear for the space on board, especially if they have a big fish catch, so they dump nets overboard to reduce weight.
➢ The vessel chose to dump old gear rather than having to dispose of it properly on shore, saving them money by dumping over board.
➢ The gear is damaged and the vessel has no use for it, so easier to dump overboard than pack up and secure for onshore disposal.
This can occur due to operational / economic pressure:
➢ The vessel may have too much gear for the space on board, especially if they have a big fish catch, so they dump nets overboard to reduce weight.
➢ The vessel chose to dump old gear rather than having to dispose of it properly on shore, saving them money by dumping over board.
➢ The gear is damaged and the vessel has no use for it, so easier to dump overboard than pack up and secure for onshore disposal.
Slide 17 - Slide
Case Study – North Atlantic deep sea shark fishing
During the 1990’s a fleet of 50 ships fished the North Atlantic for deep sea sharks, so they could sell the shark liver oil from the sharks caught.
Ships would have between 6,000-9,000km (3,728-5,592 miles) of gillnet in the water at a time.
On average each ship would lose up to 30km (18.6 miles) of gillnet, every trip they made out to fish. Each vessel would head out for up to 2 months at a time. This means the fleet of 50 vessels were losing up to 1,500km (932 miles) of gillnet every two months, which equals 750 tonnes of plastic pollution. This is just one fleet of 50 ships.
During the 1990’s a fleet of 50 ships fished the North Atlantic for deep sea sharks, so they could sell the shark liver oil from the sharks caught.
Ships would have between 6,000-9,000km (3,728-5,592 miles) of gillnet in the water at a time.
On average each ship would lose up to 30km (18.6 miles) of gillnet, every trip they made out to fish. Each vessel would head out for up to 2 months at a time. This means the fleet of 50 vessels were losing up to 1,500km (932 miles) of gillnet every two months, which equals 750 tonnes of plastic pollution. This is just one fleet of 50 ships.
Slide 18 - Slide
Types of ALD nets and fishing gear lost
Driftnet refers to the setting of nets along the top of the ocean. A driftnet is not anchored to the ocean floor, instead it hangs vertically in the water attached to ropes along the ocean surface with buoys and weights along the bottom. These nets are used to target pelagic fish, which simply means fish that are not in coastal waters, reefs or on the seabed. They live in open ocean and can be several kilometres under the surface.
Illegal poachers are often caught using illegal driftnets. In December 1991 the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution banning the use of driftnets longer than 2.5km in international waters, commencing from 1993.
They are still used by poachers.
Sea Shepherd Case Study Operation Driftnet provides additional learning in this area.
Driftnet refers to the setting of nets along the top of the ocean. A driftnet is not anchored to the ocean floor, instead it hangs vertically in the water attached to ropes along the ocean surface with buoys and weights along the bottom. These nets are used to target pelagic fish, which simply means fish that are not in coastal waters, reefs or on the seabed. They live in open ocean and can be several kilometres under the surface.
Illegal poachers are often caught using illegal driftnets. In December 1991 the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution banning the use of driftnets longer than 2.5km in international waters, commencing from 1993.
They are still used by poachers.
Sea Shepherd Case Study Operation Driftnet provides additional learning in this area.
Slide 19 - Slide
Gillnets
Gillnets are walls of netting set in a straight line that are very effective at trapping fish. Using floats on the surface the length of the lines can be adjusted to set the nets at varying depths. They are usually set several kilometres below the surface and can be many kilometres long. They are used for deep living fish like toothfish. Laws on gillnets vary between countries.
The use of gillnets goes back several centuries. The traditional versions were made of organic materials, such as hemp, which means that if they were lost at sea they would breakdown and not be an issue for marine wildlife.
Current nets are made from plastics and can float in the oceans for many years to come trapping unsuspecting marine wildlife.
Sea Shepherd Case Study Operation Icefish provides additional learning in this area.
Gillnets are walls of netting set in a straight line that are very effective at trapping fish. Using floats on the surface the length of the lines can be adjusted to set the nets at varying depths. They are usually set several kilometres below the surface and can be many kilometres long. They are used for deep living fish like toothfish. Laws on gillnets vary between countries.
The use of gillnets goes back several centuries. The traditional versions were made of organic materials, such as hemp, which means that if they were lost at sea they would breakdown and not be an issue for marine wildlife.
Current nets are made from plastics and can float in the oceans for many years to come trapping unsuspecting marine wildlife.
Sea Shepherd Case Study Operation Icefish provides additional learning in this area.
Slide 20 - Slide
Long line fishing
Long lines are fishing lines that can run for up to 100 km (62.1miles) with thousands of baited barbed hooks. They will catch everything that tries to go for the bait or any fish caught on the hooks. This includes sharks, seals and turtles.
These lines are also dangerous to sea birds, who will try to dive and take the bait from the hooks or the fish caught on them. There are two types of long lines, both consist of a main fishing line from which shorter lines containing hooks:
➢ pelagic long line uses normal fishing line for the main line.
➢ cable long line uses a heavy wire line for the main line.
Long lines are fishing lines that can run for up to 100 km (62.1miles) with thousands of baited barbed hooks. They will catch everything that tries to go for the bait or any fish caught on the hooks. This includes sharks, seals and turtles.
These lines are also dangerous to sea birds, who will try to dive and take the bait from the hooks or the fish caught on them. There are two types of long lines, both consist of a main fishing line from which shorter lines containing hooks:
➢ pelagic long line uses normal fishing line for the main line.
➢ cable long line uses a heavy wire line for the main line.
Slide 21 - Slide
Other fishing gear
Other gear includes:
➢ Craypots
➢ Fish traps
➢ FAD’s – fish aggregation device – designed to attract sea life.
FADs are comprised of 2 parts: a floating part made of plastic tanks and palm leaves, and an anchored part, usually made by a long polypropylene twine tied around a weight of concrete or stones that anchors the device deeply to the seabed.
Other gear includes:
➢ Craypots
➢ Fish traps
➢ FAD’s – fish aggregation device – designed to attract sea life.
FADs are comprised of 2 parts: a floating part made of plastic tanks and palm leaves, and an anchored part, usually made by a long polypropylene twine tied around a weight of concrete or stones that anchors the device deeply to the seabed.
Why are nets and other gear
not recovered by the
fishing industry?
not recovered by the
fishing industry?
Slide 22 - Mind map
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.
“Why are nets and other gear not recovered by the fishing industry?”
Some answers might be:
➢ Cost of removing.
➢ Not having the right equipment.
➢ Operating illegally and running from authorities.
➢ Unable to locate lost gear as there are no tracking devices on them.
“Why are nets and other gear not recovered by the fishing industry?”
Some answers might be:
➢ Cost of removing.
➢ Not having the right equipment.
➢ Operating illegally and running from authorities.
➢ Unable to locate lost gear as there are no tracking devices on them.
Slide 23 - Slide
Why ALD fishing gear is not retrieved?
Why does the fishing industry not retrieve nets, why are they not held accountable?
One of the main reasons for not retrieving nets is that they are not traceable. No GPS or other location device is left attached to the nets. They may have recorded the coordinates of where the gear was set, but in bad weather it may have moved. Some vessels may not have GPS locators at all.
Secondly fishing gear is also not tagged by the owners so it is hard to trace who is responsible for the fishing gear once it is retrieved by another vessel.
There are no international regulations requiring fishing gear to be identifiable or trackable.
Why does the fishing industry not retrieve nets, why are they not held accountable?
One of the main reasons for not retrieving nets is that they are not traceable. No GPS or other location device is left attached to the nets. They may have recorded the coordinates of where the gear was set, but in bad weather it may have moved. Some vessels may not have GPS locators at all.
Secondly fishing gear is also not tagged by the owners so it is hard to trace who is responsible for the fishing gear once it is retrieved by another vessel.
There are no international regulations requiring fishing gear to be identifiable or trackable.
Slide 24 - Video
Implications for marine wildlife and the ocean
Marine wildlife becomes entangled in ghost nets.
As mentioned earlier estimates say that over 150,000 whales, dolphins and seals are killed by ghost nets each year.
Some nets are made from materials that make them hard to detect underwater, which is why they are effective fishing tools.
Over 200,000 sea birds are killed by ghost gear each year.
Show this video (5.22 min) from Sea Shepherd’s Operation Milagro as the crew and Mexican Navy work to free a whale trapped in illegal gillnets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L49AbW3wvJY&t=25s
Marine wildlife becomes entangled in ghost nets.
As mentioned earlier estimates say that over 150,000 whales, dolphins and seals are killed by ghost nets each year.
Some nets are made from materials that make them hard to detect underwater, which is why they are effective fishing tools.
Over 200,000 sea birds are killed by ghost gear each year.
Show this video (5.22 min) from Sea Shepherd’s Operation Milagro as the crew and Mexican Navy work to free a whale trapped in illegal gillnets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L49AbW3wvJY&t=25s
Slide 25 - Slide
Migrating whales
Some fishing industries operate in areas known to be migration paths for whales. Migrating whales can easily become entangled in ropes from cray pots and traps.
Some fishing industries operate in areas known to be migration paths for whales. Migrating whales can easily become entangled in ropes from cray pots and traps.
Slide 26 - Slide
Plastic pollution
ALD nets are made from plastics like nylon and can float in the oceans for many years to come, trapping any marine wildlife that come in contact with them.
➢ Nylon can last up to 40 years before breaking up.
➢ Fishing lines can be made of monofilament, which can last up to 600 years before breaking up. Pelagic long lines can be 80km (49.7 miles) or more of monofilament line.
ALD nets are made from plastics like nylon and can float in the oceans for many years to come, trapping any marine wildlife that come in contact with them.
➢ Nylon can last up to 40 years before breaking up.
➢ Fishing lines can be made of monofilament, which can last up to 600 years before breaking up. Pelagic long lines can be 80km (49.7 miles) or more of monofilament line.
Slide 27 - Slide
North Pacific Ocean Gyre
Researchers studying the North Pacific Ocean gyre, for plastic pollution, estimated that discarded fishing nets and lines could make up as much as 46% of the plastics floating in this big patch of garbage (2018 study).
Researchers studying the North Pacific Ocean gyre, for plastic pollution, estimated that discarded fishing nets and lines could make up as much as 46% of the plastics floating in this big patch of garbage (2018 study).
Slide 28 - Slide
Removing illegal nets and lines from the ocean
Organisations like Sea Shepherd are conducting campaigns around the world to remove these nets from the ocean.
Refer Sea Shepherd Case Study lessons for examples.
Organisations like Sea Shepherd are conducting campaigns around the world to remove these nets from the ocean.
Refer Sea Shepherd Case Study lessons for examples.
How do you think ALD fishing gear
and it's impacts can be reduced?
Slide 29 - Open question
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.
“How do you think the amount of ALD fishing gear and it’s impacts could be reduced?”
“How do you think the amount of ALD fishing gear and it’s impacts could be reduced?”
Slide 30 - Slide
Ways to reduce ALD fishing gear and their impacts
Ways to reduce might include:
➢ Tackle the issue of illegal fishing.
➢ Introducing tracking measures on nets and gear.
➢ Compulsory monitoring of nets – fishing industry required to take responsibility and recover ALD nets.
➢ Change the materials nets are made from.
➢ Required reporting of lost gear and its location.
➢ Reduce risky fishing practices, such as not setting in bad weather.
➢ Required identification on all fishing gear.
Ways to reduce might include:
➢ Tackle the issue of illegal fishing.
➢ Introducing tracking measures on nets and gear.
➢ Compulsory monitoring of nets – fishing industry required to take responsibility and recover ALD nets.
➢ Change the materials nets are made from.
➢ Required reporting of lost gear and its location.
➢ Reduce risky fishing practices, such as not setting in bad weather.
➢ Required identification on all fishing gear.
How do you think you could
help reduce plastic pollution
from fishing gear?
help reduce plastic pollution
from fishing gear?
Slide 31 - Mind map
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.
“How do you think you could help with plastic pollution from fishing gear? “
➢ Make sure take home fishing gear.
➢ Report dumped fishing nets you spot in the water.
➢ Help remove rubbish from beaches and ocean, by doing clean ups – sometimes nets wash ashore.
➢ Train how to dive for nets and join an organisation like Sea Shepherd to help with recovering ALD fishing gear.
“How do you think you could help with plastic pollution from fishing gear? “
➢ Make sure take home fishing gear.
➢ Report dumped fishing nets you spot in the water.
➢ Help remove rubbish from beaches and ocean, by doing clean ups – sometimes nets wash ashore.
➢ Train how to dive for nets and join an organisation like Sea Shepherd to help with recovering ALD fishing gear.
Write down three things you have learned?
Slide 32 - Open question
What did you learn?
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.
“Write down three things you have learned?”
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.
“Write down three things you have learned?”
Write down one thing you didn't understand?
Slide 33 - Open question
What don’t you understand?
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.
“Write down one thing you didn’t understand?”
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.
“Write down one thing you didn’t understand?”
Slide 34 - Slide
Sea Shepherd Case Studies
To enhance learning on this topic use one of Sea Shepherd’s Case Studies.
To enhance learning on this topic use one of Sea Shepherd’s Case Studies.
Slide 35 - Slide
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