Project Details
Description
There is currently no overview of how much lost fishing gear—also called ghost nets—there is in the waters around Denmark or where it is located. DTU Aqua’s new study for the Danish Fisheries Agency aims to remedy that. The Agency wants information about how many ghost nets there are and where they are located as well as suggestions for how they can be removed and how to prevent more of them from ending up in the ocean. The survey is the result of a tender won by DTU Aqua.
Lost fishing gear has a destructive impact, because for months or years it continues to catch fish and crustaceans to no use, and because marine mammals and diving birds can become entangled in it and drown. Furthermore, fishing nets are a source of pollution, as they eventually break down into microplastics.
Both commercial and recreational fishermen may lose fishing gear, e.g. if it gets stuck on rocks or wrecks, rips due to stormy weather, is carried away by a strong current, or is destroyed by ships sailing into them.
DTU Aqua has previously identified areas in the Danish waters where you—in theory—can expect a particularly large quantity of derelict fishing gear. These are areas with fishing activities close to plane and shipwrecks, rocks and reefs, and marine traffic.
The new project will conduct a practical investigation of whether ghost nets actually gather in these particular areas. In addition, the project aims to quantify the amount and type of ghost nets as well as the animals get caught in them.
Partners
National Institute of Aquatic Resources, DTU Aqua (coordinator)
P-dyk, Sweden
Danish Fishermen Producer Organization (DFPO), Denmark
Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), Denmark
Funding
The project is funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the Danish Fisheries Agency (EMFF).
Research area: Ecosystem based Marine Management
Research area: Observation Technology
Research area: Fisheries Management
Lost fishing gear has a destructive impact, because for months or years it continues to catch fish and crustaceans to no use, and because marine mammals and diving birds can become entangled in it and drown. Furthermore, fishing nets are a source of pollution, as they eventually break down into microplastics.
Both commercial and recreational fishermen may lose fishing gear, e.g. if it gets stuck on rocks or wrecks, rips due to stormy weather, is carried away by a strong current, or is destroyed by ships sailing into them.
DTU Aqua has previously identified areas in the Danish waters where you—in theory—can expect a particularly large quantity of derelict fishing gear. These are areas with fishing activities close to plane and shipwrecks, rocks and reefs, and marine traffic.
The new project will conduct a practical investigation of whether ghost nets actually gather in these particular areas. In addition, the project aims to quantify the amount and type of ghost nets as well as the animals get caught in them.
Partners
National Institute of Aquatic Resources, DTU Aqua (coordinator)
P-dyk, Sweden
Danish Fishermen Producer Organization (DFPO), Denmark
Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), Denmark
Funding
The project is funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the Danish Fisheries Agency (EMFF).
Research area: Ecosystem based Marine Management
Research area: Observation Technology
Research area: Fisheries Management
| Status | Finished |
|---|---|
| Effective start/end date | 04/07/2019 → 31/12/2020 |
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