Abstract

Abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG or “ghost gear”) has been recognized as one of the most harmful forms of marine debris, affecting thousands of marine species and impacting significantly on global harvestable fish stocks. The Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) is a cross- sectoral alliance committed to driving solutions to lost and abandoned fishing gear worldwide. The GGGI has been engaging in the Caribbean since 2018, having been a regular observer and giving presentations on ALDFG at the Caribbean Regional Fishing Mechanism (CRFM). The GGGI currently has a project in the Caribbean consisting of: 1) gathering data on gear loss rates in Caribbean fisheries in Jamaica, Grenada and Belize via fisher surveys; 2) creating predictive models on likely locations for ALDFG based on these surveys and oceanographic data; 3) trialing gear marking and recovery technology in Jamaica; 4) assessing end-of-life gear reception facilities in ports; 5) performing UAV surveys of near shore areas to determine presence of gear and informing a gear detection AI; 6) facilitation of ALDFG workshops based on the GGGI Best Practice Framework for the Management of Fishing Gear (BPF) in Belize and Jamaica to facilitate reciprocal learning with fishers and find effective local solutions and 7) collaborating with Cefas UK to trail a checklist for a parametric insurance product being developed by Cefas for the World Bank involving incorporation of the GGGI BPF into the checklist to encourage gear recovery ahead of major storm events to reduce gear loss and provide countries with lower premiums for natural disaster insurance; We would like to give an overview of this project and its outcomes with the intention of expanding this work to other Caribbean countries to stimulate effective local and regional solutions to ALDFG.

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