The Fishing Industries' "Ghost Gear"

Lobster traps, like these seen in Cape Breton, are one of the most common forms of ghost gear in Atlantic Canada. JESSICA SMITH • CAPE BRETON POST

"When it starts impacting the bottom line of one of the most important industries in Nova Scotia ... it becomes apparent that we need to do something about it."

"We can actually make more money if we clean up our act."

"There's probably way more gear out there than this study suggests. Those economic losses are only going to increase."

"You get fish and crab in the lobster pots all the time. If the [trapped creatures] die in place, then they themselves become fresh bait for other creatures to enter the trap. As long as the trap stays intact, that [cycle]  can keep on going. Those [traps] older than four years old and still intact continue to catch bycatch."

"Our estimate of the diversity of species and the total number trapped is a massive underestimate. It's important that policy changes should be made."

Tony Walker, associate professor, School for Resource and Environment Studies, Dalhousie University

Over seven tons of abandoned lobster traps and other fishing gear were found over1,523 square kilometers in South West Nova Scotia. (Cape Breton Environmental Association)

 

Canada's federal Ghost Gear Fund succeeded in removing 225 tonnes of old gear from Canadian and international waters in the past two  years; 159 tonnes of gear from the Atlantic, and 65 tonnes from the Pacific Coast. The issue of lost and discarded fishing gear dumped off the southwest coast of Nova Scotia, the site of the country's most lucrative lobster fishery, has been trapping species at risk and harming the lobster industry. Traps are supposed to be checked to allow for the release of bycatch every 24 hours. Bycatch referring to any species other than market-size lobster/

A new study out of Dalhousie University in Halifax saw researchers determining that abandoned traps, ropes, hooks and other fishing equipment cost the industry close to $200,000 in lost catches on an annual basis. The landed value of Nova Scotia lobsters in 2019 was estimated at $880 million. Ghost gear and all the problems associated with the issue is a problem that exists on a global scale. This is the first study designed to provide a preliminary assessment of the environmental and economic impacts of the problem.

 

The conclusions reached are based on findings researchers came up with last summer and fall when five fishing boats were put to use in hauling in over seven tonnes of lost, discarded and abandoned gear -- with the vessels having conducted 60 trips over 1,500 square kilometres. About 66 percent of the gear pulled to the surface represented lobster traps, while additional gear included cables, ropes, marker buoys and other debris of a marine nature.

 

Fishing gear collected in 2020 from the Atlantic Ocean is shown in a handout photo from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-DFO

 

The traps referred to frequently as lobster pots could be linked to $176,000 in annual commercial losses since many continue to catch bottom-feeders once they've been left behind. Untended traps continue to indiscriminately capture creatures such as groundfish, considered species at risk. Once the traps are abandoned, a cycle is initiated, with sea creatures continuing to be trapped. Yet precisely determining numbers captured by derelict traps can be problematical. 

When researchers managed to free some trapped creatures they found 15 different live species -- five representing species-at-risk; a wolffish, a cod, a cusk and two sculpins. "It adds weight to the negative environmental impact. These are federally protected species, and they're dying unnecessarily." According to Dr.Walker, fishers are loathe to bring in any traps they come across to shore that aren't their own for fear of facing allegations of poaching other people's traps.

An emaciated Atlantic wolffish, shown in this handout image provided by Coastal Action via Dalhousie University, with chaffing injury was released from a retrieved lobster trap near Shelburne, Nova Scotia.