Protecting our oceans and its animals, together

Ghost gear – lost, abandoned or discarded fishing equipment – is one of the biggest and deadliest threats to animals in our oceans.

In celebration of World Oceans Day, we are highlighting some of the Canadian and global projects that rescue animals, clean up ghost gear and prevent more from being left in our oceans.

All of these achievements would not be possible without millions of individuals like you. Ghost gear is a global problem that doesn't recognize borders. A global solution is needed – you are needed.

Click on the video and boxes below to learn more about these projects, none of which would be possible without people like you.

Happy World Oceans Day!

Pender Island ghost gear removal
Along with the Northwest Straits Foundation, we launched a project to remove a huge section of ghost fishing nets off of Pender Island, British Columbia.
We move Canada to join the fight against ghost gear
This commitment means that Canada will work alongside other members in the Global Ghost Gear Initative to create solutions and reduce the harmful impacts of ghost gear on a global scale.
Removing derelict crab pots in the waters of northern British Columbia
Our team joined local groups on a project to remove derelict crab traps in the waters of northern British Columbia, making it safer for animals who live or pass through these waters.
Seal
Our partner, the Marine Mammals of Maine rehabs and releases its first two harbour seals, thanks to a marine mammal triage center we helped build.
UN makes historic commitment to fight ghost gear
We’ve successfully lobbied the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to tag fishing nets, which will reduce ghost gear and protect marine animals.
Sea Change campaign: tackling ghost fishing gear
At the International Whaling Commission (IWC), we successfully called on 89 UN member states to endorse a series of suggestions in what became known as the ‘Ghost Gear Resolution'.
Hope for vaquitas
Along with the International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita (CIRVA), and Californian company Monterey Bay Diving, we located and removed illegal gillnets threatening the already endangerd species.
Global Ghost Gear Initiative
At the first ever UN Oceans Conference, we moved 10 governments to sign onto the Global Ghost Gear Initiative to tackle the issue of lost, discarded or abandoned fishing gear.
The Fundy North Fishermen's Association works with local fishers to remove ghost gear
The Fundy North Fishermen's Association in New Brunswick has been tackling ghost gear for years. By joining with us and the rest of the Global Ghost Gear Initiative, their work will serve as a great best practice example to others around the world.

The global ghost gear crisis in numbers

  • 640,000 tons of ghost gear is left in our oceans every year – more than one ton every minute!
  • 136,000 animals are trapped, injured, mutilated and killed by ghost gear every year.
  • Up to 70% of marcro-plastics in the ocean are from ghost gear.

Through our Sea Change campaign, you are part of a global team working to tackle ghost gear to create safer and healthier oceans for all animals.

By bringing together governments, businesses and fishing organizations, we are developing global solutions for a future free from the ghost gear threat.

Tell the world