Using the Local Ecological Knowledge of Fish Harvesters to Assess the Extent of Ghost Fishing Gear in Nova Scotia
In recent years, Canadian and Global public awareness of ghost gear has improved.
Ghost gear is traditionally defined as fishing gear that has been lost or discarded at sea and which continues to fish. This continued trapping of both targeted and bycatch species has negative environmental and economic impacts.
One point of view that has often been overlooked with respect to ghost gear is that of fish harvesters. The Fishermen and Scientists Research Society (FSRS) aims to facilitate the collection of information relevant to fishing communities through active collaboration with fish harvesters.
In this context, the FSRS has begun conducting focus groups to capture the perspective of fish harvesters concerning ghost gear in Atlantic Canada.
In 2015, the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) was founded as the first international alliance dedicated to tackling the issue of ghost gear at a global scale. The GGGI represents the collaboration of fish harvesters, private companies, academia, government representatives and NGOs (GGGI 2019).
In 2018, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations published a set of international guidelines for marking fishing gear and began working on its own global strategy for addressing ghost gear (FAO UN 2018; WAP 2018).
In Atlantic Canada, the Government of Canada’s 2018 budget pledged $8.3 million to clean Canada’s waters of abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear. These initiatives are driven by an unprecedented increase in public interest in marine pollution.
In response to increased public awareness, the Clean Foundation held its first Clean Ocean Summit in 2018. This event brought together fishing associations, NGOs, industry personnel, indigenous groups, and government representatives from across Atlantic Canada to collaborate in addressing marine pollution in our waters.
At this summit, two areas of interest concerning marine pollution were identified: single-use plastics and fishing gear.
Working groups were formed for each of these areas of interest. The FSRS joined the fishing gear working group, which later became the Fishing Gear Coalition of Atlantic Canada (FGCAC). The FGCAC determined that there was a general lack of knowledge about the distribution and severity of ghost fishing in Atlantic Canada.
Our mandate at the FSRS is to create and maintain a partnership between fishermen and scientists, to promote the long-term sustainability of the marine fishing industry in Atlantic Canada. The FSRS has a background in collecting local ecological knowledge from fish harvesters and other stakeholders.
Using this experience, the FSRS has begun conducting focus groups with fish harvesters who have first-hand knowledge on the topic of ghost gear in our region. By gathering information from community stakeholders, we will be able to support and advise the FGCAC and relevant government decision makers regarding effective measures for mitigating the effects of lost and discarded fishing gear. Excluding fish harvesters from the discussion on ghost gear would result in inefficient and ineffective efforts to address the issue.
The goal of our ghost gear project is to gather local ecological knowledge to identify the composition, location and abundance of ghost gear in Nova Scotia. The pilot ghost gear project involves hosting small focus groups of three to six fish harvesters. The focus groups are held at locations and times that are convenient for the participants.
During the focus groups, fish harvesters are asked about their perception of ghost gear and the factors which contribute to lost and discarded fishing gear. We also ask fish harvesters about barriers they face in recovering and disposing of fishing gear, and for their advice concerning possible solutions to the challenges they share. We are also interested in fish harvesters’ thoughts about existing waste management infrastructure for old fishing gear in their communities, and how these systems could be improved.
At present, we have completed five focus groups with 12 lobster fishermen from LFAs 32 and 33. The consensus among participants has been that the lobster fishery in these areas is not a major source of ghost gear.
Lobster traps are lost infrequently and almost always recovered within the fishing season. Participants have expressed interest in recovery of lost gear, however, they have noted that locating lost gear offshore would be challenging.
Some of the fish harvesters we spoke with were enthusiastic about recent innovations in remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Fish harvesters have a wealth of local ecological knowledge and can identify areas of ecological significance.
Participants suggested that ROVs could be used to locate and remove nets in herring spawning grounds and they indicated that they would be interested in participating in such initiatives.
Weather conditions and vessel interaction with fixed gear have been discussed as driving factors of gear loss. Improvements in navigation technology and gear durability have greatly reduced gear loss. Many participants do not believe lost lobster traps meet the criteria of being ghost gear as they have escape hatches that degrade, limiting the time that lost traps are actively fishing.
When asked about waste disposal infrastructure for old fishing gear, most of the participants have said that the current facilities are adequate.
In the communities we have visited, landfill is seldom the final destination of retired fishing gear. Fish harvesters will often donate or sell their old traps, nets and rope to artists, farmers, tourists and recycling facilities. Additionally, fish harvesters have suggested an annual collection service for large marine waste.
The FSRS would appreciate your feedback about our ghost gear project. If you are a fish harvester in Nova Scotia who would be interested in participating in our project, we are interested in learning from your valuable local ecological knowledge. Please contact Thomas Baker by email tbaker.fsrs@gmail.com, or by phone (902) 461-8119.
The Fishermen and Scientists Research Society invites you to attend our 27th Annual Conference and AGM on March 26, 2020 at the Best Western Plus Dartmouth Hotel and Suites.
The annual conference provides an opportunity for dedicated fish harvesters representing their industry, researchers from government, academia and non-profit organizations, students and the general public to converge on issues relating to the research and sustainability of our valuable marine resources. The FSRS will present a science update highlighting our collaborative work with fishing communities.
For more information about registering to attend or sponsoring our conference, please contact fsrs.conference@gmail.com. For more information about the FSRS, please visit us online at fsrs.ns.ca
By Thomas Baker
Fishermen and Scientists Research Society
