Ghost fishing gear has been a focal topic of debate within environmental conversations across the globe in recent years. The issue of fishing equipment abandoned or lost at sea, and associated problems when this gear catches something, are particularly prevalent within the Gulf of California, Mexico. The ghost gear found within this region has received particularly high attention due to its notable negative repercussions for the nearly extinct vaquita population. Ghost gear, although technically not actively fishing, is still able to snag species such as whales, fish, dolphins, turtles, and everything in between. It can span hundreds of meters cumulatively across ocean floors. Consequently, ghost fishing gear is considered problematic by most environmental conservation entities. The scope of this issue, however, is much larger. When we take into account the fishers and communities that rely heavily on fishing for their livelihoods, we find that marine fauna are not the only organisms dependent upon robust marine ecosystems; however, humans are the source and solution for problems related to ghost fishing gear.

A Brief Overview of Ghost Fishing

It is plausible that ghost fishing originated at the same time as fishing itself considering the many reasons why gear might be abandoned or lost. For example, a fisherman might have his net swept away in an unexpected current or another fisherman might find themself weighed down and unable to move or stay afloat until the gear and catch are taken off the boat. The first formal statement of concern is attributed to having occurred at the FAO Committee on Fisheries in 1985 (Ghost Diving). The observed severity of declines in species numbers (e.g., the vaquita) has no doubt incited a stronger focus on ghost gear in the last few decades. There is increasing attention to this problem due to its indiscriminate range, occurring throughout the ocean wherever fishing is possible. Thus, it remains a topic of discussion at international fishing conferences and conventions (FAO 2009, IUCN 2016).

Ghost Gear within the Gulf of California

In the Gulf of California (henceforth referred to as GoC) alone, ghost fishing has a prominent presence within its waters. The gillnet, a hanging line of netting often used to catch the high-value totoaba among a variety of other species, is a common gear type contributing to the ghost fishing problem in the GoC.

The GoC is also home to a large number of diverse fishing communities that rely heavily on their catch to support lifestyles, families, and the community as a whole. Compared to other available occupations, fishing provides a unique opportunity to both collect fish for oneself and to collect for a profit. In Mexico, the GoC is one of the most valuable fisheries regions for commercial catch, such as shrimp, squid, and sardines. Amidst these operations, you can also find a diverse range of species, such as turtles, sharks, and cetaceans like the vaquita. The vaquita, Phocoena sinus, is noted as the smallest living cetacean. This species is endemic to the Upper Gulf of California and is heavily threatened by the continued presence of ghost gear.  The vaquita is designated as critically endangered, having only about 10-20 individuals left in the wild. Species such as this depend on the reduction of ghost gear within their native habitats, however, over time fisheries monitoring and enforcement have fluctuated. In recent years, enforcement of the gillnet ban, which was initiated in 2017, has been cut back and become lax. Additionally, organized crime has entered into a more transparent role and staked a further claim in the GoC fisheries for totoaba, creating a situation in which it is increasingly difficult to effectively control totoaba gillnet use (and therefore deter ghost fishing).

Fishing Communities and Ghost Gear: What value does this practice hold?

To try to understand why fishing gear is lost or abandoned in the GOC, let us focus solely on the “abandoned” classification. Presumably, if fishers were to abandon their gear, what they have to gain by doing so is greater than what they might have gained if they kept their gear. For example, avoiding arrest is a much greater gain than getting caught illegally fishing and losing all of the fish anyways. When fishers are faced with the impending risk of arrest or other negative repercussions (e.g. fines, bans) for illegal fishing practices, abandoning gear would be a likely outcome if the fines or bans exceeded the value of the gear. However, considering the presence of organized crime and its stake in Mexican fisheries, fishers associated with criminal organizations might be more inclined to fish illegally and to abandon gear if they fish knowing that they have unique access to money, security, and other resources. This would lessen the cost of abandoning gear.

And What Does the Future Hold?

Environmental cleanup efforts have always had a relatively difficult time recovering ghost gear whether it is simply lost or abandoned. Organizations such as Sea Shepherd often embark on recovery expeditions in the GoC to collect as much ghost gear as possible, particularly during the spawning season when the high-value totoaba is aggregated and easier to catch. As an example, in the 2017/2018 totoaba spawning season, approximately 400 totoaba gillnets were removed from the ocean as a result of the collective efforts of various environmental conservation parties, including Sea Shepherd. Recently, however, fishers have begun to stand guard by their “abandoned” gear so that it remains in their possession and active thus, interfering with salvage efforts and making them more dangerous and difficult.

It seems likely that ghost fishing will remain a hot environmental concern for the foreseeable future in the GoC and presumably elsewhere. As the totoaba fishing industry, in particular, experiences production growth due to increased market demands, lost and abandoned gear will remain a factor. Fisheries innovations have the opportunity to lessen the impact of ghost gear, but this probably shouldn’t be considered a “fix” as these will take time and resources, both of which are finite. Likewise, as the world continues to see population changes for all kinds of marine species, it’s logical that we will hear more debates surrounding lost or abandoned gear and how to get a handle on it. The extremely low numbers of the vaquita population and dwindling numbers of totoaba make strong arguments for environmental advocates looking to improve monitoring and enforcement of both illegal fishing and protected areas in the GoC (try searching for ghost fishing in the GoC, the top results are usually articles on the vaquita!). However, it seems important to try to work towards a future in which middle ground can be met, where fishing practices can sustain communities and families without putting bycaught and targeted species at risk of disappearing permanently. For now, panels, task forces, and volunteer organizations with a keen focus on retrieving, removing, and better understanding ghost gear already exist in many places around the world. Recreational divers can also always play a part in reducing ghost gear presence by keeping an eye out for net debris on each underwater adventure. Even by simply taking the time to read up on ghost gear, we are taking a solid first step towards finding a viable solution for this issue.