Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear

Fishing gear has been lost, abandoned or otherwise discarded in all seas and oceans ever since fishing began. The extent and impacts of the problem have increased significantly over the last 50 years with the increasing levels of fishing effort and capacity in the world’s oceans and the increasing durability of fishing gear. Fishing activity has now extended to previously untouched offshore and deep-sea environments, which are often very sensitive to the impacts of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG).