Development of a best practice framework for the management of fishing gear UK

World Animal Protection - Project Dates:
May 2016 - August 2016

Description of Project:
The work involved the development of a best practice framework for the management of fishing gear at all stages of its ‘life cycle’. The application of the framework will help to reduce fishing gear loss and abandonment, especially in cases where there is a high risk of the gear becoming ghost gear. The best practice framework addressed:

Management of gear on board vessels
Management of gear when deployed at sea
Management of end-of-life gear

The purpose of the best practice framework was to provide clear guidance to a range of relevant stakeholders including seafood businesses, fishing industry, certification bodies and local and national authorities/governments on how to effectively address the issue of ghost gear. It is envisioned that the framework produced via this project would undergo further consultation and potential refinement within the working group, who would then be seeking the endorsement of the wider GGGI participant base at the GGGI’s annual meeting in October 2016. At this stage the framework may undergo further revisions and refinement by the participants.

Services Provided:

Poseidon produced a document which presented a best practice framework for the management of fishing gear at the different stages of its lifecycle (on board vessel, deployed at sea and end of life). This best practice, which was specific to different gear types, included a summary chart of fishing gear type, graphics of gear, and key recommendations by each of the three stages