漁網、わな、その他の漁具は、嵐、事故、設備の故障などによって海で失われることがあります。

READING

Fishing nets, traps, and other gear are sometimes lost at sea because of storms, accidents, or equipment failure. Once separated from their owners, these items may continue functioning for months or even years. Fish, seabirds, turtles, and other marine animals can become trapped in abandoned gear even though no fisher is present to collect the catch. Because the equipment is no longer being monitored, animals that are caught may die and remain inside, attracting additional creatures and allowing the cycle to continue. This unintended capture is commonly known as ghost fishing.

The damage can extend beyond the loss of marine life. Abandoned nets and lines may drift into shipping routes, where they can become tangled around propellers or other equipment and create hazards for vessels. Gear that sinks or washes ashore can also damage coral reefs, seagrass beds, and coastal habitats. In areas where fishing supports local livelihoods, the unnecessary death of commercially valuable species can reduce future catches as well. Since lost gear can remain active for long periods, its effects may continue far after the original loss occurs, making it a persistent form of marine pollution.

One response is to require fishing gear to carry markings that identify its owner, making responsibility clearer when equipment is recovered. Governments can also introduce deposit systems in which fishers pay an additional amount when purchasing gear and receive the money back after returning old or damaged equipment. These measures can encourage recovery and proper disposal. However, they do not solve every problem. Lost gear can be difficult to locate in deep or rough waters, especially when currents move it far from where it disappeared. Recovery operations may require specialized vessels, divers, or sonar equipment, and the cost of retrieval can exceed the value of the material recovered. As a result, some abandoned gear may remain in the ocean even when incentives for recovery are available.