- a network for exchanging knowledge

www.cnogear.org

Funded by Nordic Council of Ministers

The story from O to CNO

Nordic network to exchange knowledge and experience about methods and measures to reduce the effects of ghost fishing, littering of the oceans and to increase recycling from commercial and recreational fishing.

Norway

Norway (Directorate of Fisheries), Denmark (DTU Aqua) and Sweden (Swedish agency for marine and water management)

2017 – 2019

The Nordic Counsil of Ministers

The project:

Leading the project:

Leader group:

Project period:

Funding:

The network

Workshops and conference

Workshop 2017 (Denmark, Copenhagen)

Workshop 2018 (Norway, Runde)

Conference 2019 (Sweden, Gothenburg) Runde

News and knowledge exchange- 59 news articles present

Awareness and knowlegde movies launched in 2018

- a network for exchanging knowledge

www.cnogear.org

Funded by Nordic Council of Ministers

Nordic countries – Similarities and differences

The Nordic countries

Differences

- Atlantic vs. Baltic sea

- Infrastructure

- Mainland vs. Island

- Differences around the acceptance of issues- From the political side and the industry

The Nordic countries

Differences

- Fishing fleet structure

- Recreational fishery- Legislations- Effort

Preventative:

Land- and legislationsmeasures

Active measures Preventative: Searelated measures

Land- and legislation measures

Recommendation

Awareness

Unawareness of the problem and the consequences caused by lost fishing gear and other fishery related litter

Information, knowledge and awareness raising measures

Challenge

Lack of efficient regulation

Relevant legislation for ex. prohibition of using fishing gear not equipped with escape possibility

Effort restrictions

Eliminate legal barriers

Recommendation

Regulations and legislation

Challenge

Fishing gear today are not biodegradable they consist of different types of materials which makes them difficult to recycle.

Research and development of other/new materials has to increase

Innovative solutions of fishing gear that enables escape

Recommendation

Material and design

Challenge

To low rates of reuse and possible recyclingof fishing gear

Non fee systems in harbours Second hand market Buy back Deposit system Producers responsibility

Recommendation

Economy into end of life FG and ALDFG

Challenge

Unidentified responsibility for abandoned and lost fishing gear

Each land has to determine this in order to achieve effective and continuous retrieval actions.

Possible solutions

Who is responsible?How do we finance retrieval actions?

Challenge

Preventive measures at sea

Recommendation

Avoiding creation of ALDFG at sea

Overlap between active and passive fisheries can create ALDFG

Overlap between passive fisheries and other ship traffic can create ALDFG

Better marking of passive gear with e.g. radar reflectors, AIS, lights, etc.

Real-time maps of the exact positions of passive gear will help avoiding conflicts

Routing of ship traffic

Periodic or constant observation of passive gear can help avoid gear loss

Challenge

Recommendation

Gear getting snagged on physical obstacles on the seafloor can create ALDFG

Gear lost because of inclement wind and weather can create ALDFG

Better maps of seafloor obstacles will reduce interactions

Code of conduct for responsible fishing can help avoiding such losses

Information on correct use of gear for recreational fishermen will reduce such losses

Challenge

Avoiding creation of ALDFG at sea

Recommendation

Gear abandoned or discarded at sea

Not all fishermen are aware the consequences of ALDFG

ID-marking of fishing gear will act as an incentive to not abandon or discard gear at sea

Awareness measures

Challenge

Avoiding creation of ALDFG at sea

Active Measures

Recommendation

Reception and Handling

Fishing gears often ends up in places where it is not supposed to be (port, sea, ect), where it can be for decades.

Facilitate reception arrangements in ports in order to remove one of the reasons why gear is abandoned.

.

Challenge

Recommendation

Retrieval of lost gear

When fishing gear is lost, it can pose a threat as ghost gear, but also marine litter. To avoid the negative consequences, the gear should be retrieved. This often proves to be hard.

When location is known, retrieval operation using dredge seems to be the most efficient way to go.

Challenge

Recommendation

Localization of lost gear

When gear is lost, it can be hard to locate the exact area where it is located. In order to conduct an efficient gear retrieval, you need to now where the lost gear is located.

Fishermen based reporting – Where they report their own lost gear, seems to have the best results.

Challenge

- a network for exchanging knowledge

www.cnogear.org

Funded by Nordic Council of Ministers