The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation is joining Ocean Conservancy’s Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI). The GGGI is the world’s only alliance solely dedicated to solving the problem of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear, also known as ghost gear.
“It is a pleasure to welcome the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation as a partner in the fight to eliminate ghost gear, the most harmful form of marine debris,” said Ingrid Giskes, Director of the GGGI at Ocean Conservancy. “With Spain joining the GGGI in April this year, we look forward to working together and expanding our work in the Mediterranean region.”
Gear loss occurs wherever fishing takes place, often due to rough weather, snags beneath the surface, and marine traffic accidentally running it over and cutting it loose. In addition to being lethal, it is also among the most prevalent forms of ocean plastic pollution.
Research indicates that ghost fishing gear makes up 46-70% of all floating macroplastics in ocean gyres by weight, and up to a 30% decline in some fish stocks can be attributed to ghost gear. In the western Mediterranean, ALDFG reportedly accounts for 77% of the total number of marine debris items.
Olivier Wenden, Vice President and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, said: “Protecting marine ecosystems and fighting plastic pollution is a major concern for the Foundation, not only in the Mediterranean Basin but also at a global scale. Tackling the issue of ghost gear, which is jeopardising marine life and the health of our ocean, requires collaborative work if we want to drive effective change. Joining forces with Ocean Conservancy in the framework of the Global Ghost Gear Initiative is a step further in our mission to raise awareness of the problems the Mediterranean Sea is facing and accelerate the development of scalable solutions for the future of the ocean.”
About the Global Ghost Gear Initiative
The Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) is the only cross-sectoral alliance dedicated to solving the problem of abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear – ghost gear – around the world. The GGGI brings together more than 130 stakeholder groups, including 20 national governments as well as representatives from civil society, the private sector, public agencies, academia, intergovernmental organisations and others from across the fishing industry to tackle ghost gear on a global scale. For details, see www.ghostgear.org.
About Ocean Conservancy
Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with partners, it creates science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. See www.oceanconservancy.org.
