Partnering with Fishers to Remove Derelict Fishing Gear in the Gulf of Maine

Ocean Conservancy and the Global Ghost Gear Initiative® removed derelict fishing gear from Maine state waters in partnership with local fishers.

Type of Project: Removal

Region: Northeast

Project Dates: October 2020 - September 2024

Who was involved?

With support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, Ocean Conservancy and theGlobal Ghost Gear Initiative, along with partners at the Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation, removed derelict fishing gear and large debris from identified hotspots in the Gulf of Maine. This project also built capacity amongst fishers and other stakeholders to implement best practices for managing gear and preventing gear loss.  

What is the project and why is it important?

In New England, fishing gear can be lost during heavy storms, from entanglement in other fishing gear, and accidental interactions with commercial or recreational boats. Once lost in the ocean, derelict fishing gear can continue to trap and kill marine life and even compete with active fishing gear for catches. 

This project established transboundary collaboration to address lost gear in the Gulf of Maine, in both US and Canadian waters. Project partners worked with local fishers to remove derelict fishing gear and convened workshops with fishers, policymakers, and conservation advocates to share best practices and build trust among stakeholders. Partners also hosted an event at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum to share the successes and challenges faced by local fishers and to build strong relationships. 

What were the results? 

Through this project, in collaboration with fishers, partners removed more than 80,500 pounds of debris from Maine state waters. They reached more than 300 stakeholders and trained 120 fishers and other stakeholders in the Gulf of Maine, Rhode Island, and Canada on best practices to prevent and report fishing gear loss. The team built capacity across communities to prevent and reduce abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear, protecting the coastal and marine environments upon which these valuable fisheries depend.

For more information about this project, visit the Marine Debris Program Clearinghouse.