Succorfish calls on the UK Government to act on the ghost fishing gear crisis, backing dialogue, recovery technology and policy action now UK!!
UK government must get serious to tackle growing environmental ‘ghost’ fishing gear crisis
The UK government needs to get serious and instigate a proper dialogue around tackling the growing environmental crisis being caused by ‘ghost’ fishing gear.
That’s the view of Chad Hooper, CEO of specialist marine technology firm Succorfish, after repeated attempts to speak with DEFRA and the Marine Management Organisation both directly and through partners received a minimal response.
Tyneside-based Succorfish and development partner Newcastle University are key contributors to NETTAG+, a major pan-European research programme which is focused on prevention, mitigation and recovery of ghost gear across European waters.
NETTAG+ brings together governments, fisheries, the WWF and leading research institutes such as CIIMAR in Portugal on issues including gear traceability, recovery programmes and broader policy alignment.
Succorfish is also working with global partners including Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and was invited to be a keynote speaker at the 2nd International Fishing Gear Innovation Summit in New Brunswick last year – but it has so far been unable to enter into any serious dialogue at home.
Chad Hooper says: “We’ve been part of strong collaboration and forward-thinking policy work internationally, yet here in the UK it feels like we’re banging on a closed door which DEFRA and the MMO really need to open as soon as possible for the sake of our ocean environment.
“Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear is one of the most prevalent and damaging forms of marine plastic pollution, continuing to trap marine life, damage habitats and degrade into microplastics that persist for generations.
“Much of this gear continues to “ghost fish” for years and is a major cause of entanglement for marine species, including cetaceans such as dolphins and whales.
“These incidents often result in severe injury, prolonged suffering or death, and are increasingly recognised as a serious threat to biodiversity across UK waters.”
Succorfish is the developer of MyGearTag, a state-of-the-art acoustic location device that uses miniaturised modem technology to enable fishing boats to find lost nets, pots and traps over a range of up to three kilometres.
Developed in partnership with Newcastle University’s Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the NETTAG+ programme, MyGearTag is crafted entirely from recycled fishing nets and weighs just 500 grammes.
Following successful trials in the North Sea and Arabian Sea, MyGearTag has since been deployed in the North Atlantic, Canada and parts of South America, where it has demonstrated its ability to accurately locate lost fishing gear, support recovery operations and reduce both environmental impact and financial loss for fisheries.
Chad Hooper continues: “As well as being an environmental issue, it also is an economic and technological opportunity, with the UK having the capability to lead globally in solving one of the biggest challenges facing our oceans – but without engagement and commitment at policy level, it’s an opportunity that we risk missing out on.
“We have developed world-leading technology here in the UK that’s been validated through global partnerships and is in active use at sea, but we’ve been unable to even begin meaningful discussions with DEFRA or the MMO, let alone share our knowledge on how its enabling fisheries to locate and recover lost gear, reduce environmental impact and improve operational efficiency.
“There’s definitely more momentum on this issue in Europe, with initiatives aligned with Brussels’ Ocean policies and wider campaigns such as Oceans 30 driving tangible commitments towards reducing marine plastic and tackling ghost gear at scale.
“There’s no reason why progress can’t be made quickly in at home, but it needs DEFRA and the MMO to get round the table with all the organisations, institutions and companies that stand ready to be part of a committed, comprehensive policy-led response.
“There needs to be urgent governmental recognition of ghost gear as a critical component of the UK’s marine plastic strategy, greater alignment with international efforts to significantly reduce marine plastic pollution by 2030 and more support for deployment of proven UK technologies which would also feed into the government’s continuing drive for economic growth.”
The Netagg Team
