Ghost nets – A pilot project on derelict fishing gear (39409)

Lost or discarded fishing gear that is no longer under a fisherman’s control becomes known as derelict fishing gear (DFG) and more popularly as ghost nets. Some DFG can continue to trap and kill crustaceans, fish, seabirds and marine mammals, in a process referred to as ghost fishing. It is known as a major problem in some of our neighbouring countries, but no information is available on the scale of this problem in Danish waters. The objective of the present pilot project is thus to conduct a basic collection of knowledge on DFG in selected Danish marine areas, which could constitute the basis for a wider effort in Danish waters. We will use VMS and AIS data from Danish fishing vessels to map active and passive fishing activities separately and then overlay these to identify zones of interactions that could be sources of DFG. We will also overlay the maps of fishing activities with maps of wrecks, reefs and marine traffic to identify additional zones of interactions.

Based on these analyses of overlap we will identify three areas where interactions appear to be more pronounced. In these areas we will interview fishermen and conduct questionnaire surveys of sports divers to obtain information on how they see the problems with DFG.

Funding
The project is funded by Styrelsen for Vand- og Naturforvaltning (now part of Danish Agency for Environmental Protection) and Direktør J.P.A. Espersen og hustru, Fru Dagny Espersens Fond.

Research area: Ecosystem based Marine Management