Ghost fishing: This could encourage more fishermen to use that breaks down
They are more likely to adopt new equipment if they feel their colleagues support the change.
Lost fishing gear pollutes the ocean and continues to catch fish. Could switching to materials that break down over time be a solution?(Photo: Erling Svensen)
Every year, a lot of fishing equipment is lost at sea. Fish and other marine animals become entangled in nets, caught in traps, and suffer a slow death. This is called ghost fishing.
One way to help reduce ghost fishing is to use fishing gear made from materials that break down over time.
Nets and traps made of biodegradable materials will eventually stop causing harm as they disintegrate. Synthetic materials, like nylon, however, remain durable for many years.
In a new study, PhD candidate Huu-Luat Do at UiT The Arctic University of Norway has investigated what fishers think about biodegradable fishing gear.
Annonse
The study was conducted together with Claire W. Armstrong, a professor at the Norwegian College of Fishery Science at UiT.
"Promising solution"
The motivation for conducting the study came from a growing global concern about fishing gear that is abandoned or lost, says Huu-Luat Do.
"This type of gear continues to catch marine life for years, contributing to plastic pollution in the ocean and harming biodiversity, while also reducing the economic returns for fishers," he says.
Although there are programmes to retrieve lost fishing gear, these are expensive and limited in scope, according to the researcher.
"Biodegradable fishing gear has been seen as a promising solution, but it's still unclear to what extent fishers are willing to switch to such gear. Our study aimed to investigate how fishers in Norway perceive this transition, and what factors influence their attitudes towards adopting biodegradable fishing gear," he says.
Not easily accessible
The researchers conducted a survey with around 900 fishers in Norway.
The results showed that two out of three fishers are aware of biodegradable fishing gear. But only one in four is willing to use it.
Concerns were related to the belief that biodegradable gear would be more expensive and catch less fish (link in Norwegian).
Huu-Luat Do is a PhD candidate at UiT.(Photo: UiT)
Experiments have shown that this type of gear loses catch efficiency more quickly and wears out faster, confirms Do.
He says that biodegradable gear is commercially available but only to a limited extent.
"In Norway, for example, there's a requirement for biodegradable thread in certain trap fisheries, such as for king crab," he says.
There is also a requirement to use biodegradable cotton thread in traps used for recreational fishing.
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According to Do, the most relevant types of gear to make from biodegradable materials are traps and nets.
"Trials have been conducted with biodegradable nets. However, such gear is still under commercial development, and many fishers are not yet aware of these alternatives." he says.
The research centre DSolve is working on developing and researching gear made from biodegradable plastic.
Do not want new regulations
Although fishers were sceptical about using biodegradable gear, many (74 per cent) agreed that this type of gear would be good for the environment.
"Many fishers recognise the environmental benefits, but concerns about reduced catch efficiency remain significant," summarises Huu-Luat Do.
The image shows a trap with biodegradable cotton thread (the white part), which functions as an escape opening – as required by regulations.(Photo: Huu-Luat Do)
The survey showed that few fishers supported fees or more regulations on synthetic materials.
However, many were positive towards introducing subsidies to encourage the use of biodegradable fishing gear.
Just as important was the influence of colleagues. Fishers who perceived that their colleagues supported the use of biodegradable gear were more positive about using it themselves.
This can promote usage
"Support from colleagues played a key role. Fishers were more open to switching if they felt their colleagues were positive about it. Perceived environmental benefits and increased awareness of the harm caused by ghost gear also contributed to greater acceptance," says Do.
This seemed to have a greater impact on the willingness to switch to biodegradable gear than financial incentives alone, says Do.
If the goal is to promote the use of biodegradable fishing gear, influence from colleagues and environmental awareness are key factors.
"This suggests that pilot projects, knowledge sharing among fishers, and targeted environmental information may be more effective than regulations alone," he says.
According to the study, combining such efforts with financial incentives like subsidies and better market prices could increase support for switching gear, says Do.
Just as important, he notes, is ensuring that the new biodegradable gear performs as well as synthetic alternatives in real-world fishing conditions.
