Abstract

Abandoned, lost and otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is a global challenge at the nexus of fisheries management, maritime transport, environmental governance and solid waste management. Like other forms of marine litter, ALDFG is transported on ocean currents and may accumulate in ocean gyres, leading to transboundary impacts. Achieving effective governance of this complex challenge requires intersectoral coordination and collaboration, not only at the national level but also regionally and globally. ALDFG may be caused by a range of drivers, including environmental causes, conflicts at sea, management failures or operational errors (GESAMP, 2021, Gilman et al., 2022, Richardson, Hardesty et. al, 2021). Identifying local drivers of ALDFG is one of the first steps towards designing and implementing effective management interventions. In this same vein, understanding the governance environment and discerning related challenges and barriers is crucial to creating a responsive, effective, equitable and robust governance regime for this complex threat. As observed by Lubell et al (2021), undertaking analyses of governance barriers may assist managers in developing actionable issues and challenges that can be addressed through planning. In the context of this research, governance has been defined as the institutions, structures and processes that “determine how; power is exercised, citizens are given a voice and decisions are made on issues of public concern” (Graham et al., 2003, p. i). By considering governance through this three-tiered system, associated barriers can be similarly categorised.

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