What Our Members Are Saying

“The health of maritime ecosystems does matter, and I think that working together we can achieve much more than going on our own. We in Spain are working on different initiatives: developing a protocol to identify, to assess, and to retrieve ghost gear; working to establish concrete collection rates for recycling; and developing extended producer responsibility regimes. We encourage other countries to join this initiative and commit effort towards a cleaner, safer, and more resilient ocean.”

— Teresa Ribera – Deputy Prime Minister of Spain

“As the only organization focused wholly on the problem of ghost gear and operating on an international scale, the GGGI's true strength is in the diversity of its members, who span all ocean sectors, from industry to governance to conservation.”

— Dr. Kirsten Gilardi – California Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Project, University of California, Davis

“The United States recognizes that ghost gear has a significant impact on marine ecosystems, human health, and livelihoods, and we take a whole-of-government approach to being responsible stewards of marine resources. We encourage all other fishing nations to join us in supporting the GGGI’s efforts and to implement the FAO’s Voluntary Guidelines on Marking of Fishing Gear.”

— Jonathan Moore – Acting Assistant Secretary, United States Department of State, Department of Oceans, International Environment and Scientific Affairs

“With members from the largest commercial fisheries to community members seeing this problem of ghost gear and wanting to do something about it, GGGI has become the global hub for understanding the problem and then taking action to end it. The value of members coming from a variety of areas enables us to create a multi-pronged approach with a proven track record that is creating real positive change.”

— Ben Kneppers – Co-Founder, Bureo

“Ghost gear not only harms ocean life – it also impacts the well-being of all people who depend on the ocean. By joining the GGGI, Mexico reinforces its international commitments to the protection of biodiversity, preservation of ecosystems and marine landscapes, and fight against pollution by marine litter and plastics, promoting the sustainable management of seas and coasts for the benefit of fishing communities.”

— Martha Delgado – Undersecretary of Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights, Foreign Affairs Ministry of Mexico

“The Global Ghost Gear Initiative has become the leader in combining international efforts to address the devastation to our oceans caused by ghost fishing. The GGGI has helped Blue Ocean Gear join forces with others working toward similar goals, allowing us to broaden our impact.”

— Kortney Opshaug – CEO, Blue Ocean Gear

“Partnerships, like those that form the bedrock of the GGGI, are core to Ocean Conservancy’s DNA. Collaboration allows us to leverage local expertise and drive a collective, global strategy. We are excited to welcome the United States Government to this global partnership and look forward to continuing to drive policy change, improve fishing industry practices, and scale up tested and proven solutions to the ghost gear problem.”

— Janis Searles Jones – CEO, Ocean Conservancy

“The GGGI is a critical organisation operating in the field of marine conservation, highlighting and providing evidence about this hugely important issue facing our marine life.”

— Sue Sayer – Founder, Director and Chair, Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust

“Without support from GGGI, Myanmar Ocean Project would have been unable to raise the alarm about the severity of ghost gear issues in Myanmar. Not only has being part of GGGI allowed Myanmar Ocean Project to survey sites and engage with fishers, it has given the community hope in the conservation of the ocean.”

— Thanda Ko Gyi – Founder, Myanmer Ocean Project

“Our membership with the GGGI has opened doors for our company and our work has benefited from the knowledge and experience of the GGGI partners we’ve met along the way.”

— Joan Drinkwin – Marine Conservation Researcher, Natural Resources Consultants

“The work of the GGGI is vitally important to ensure the continued wellbeing of the marine environment and the inhabitants therein by promoting world-wide awareness of the state of our oceans and providing a meeting place for a collaboration of like-minded organizations from around the world with the same desire to save our waters and the vast marine life who inhabit them.”

— Darlene Norman-Brown – Associate Director, Fundy North Fishermen’s Association

“GGGI is a powerhouse, making waves of change to improve the ocean environment. We are thankful for the networking and collaborations!”

— Dr. Jennifer Lynch – Co-Director, Center for Marine Debris Research, Hawaii Pacific University

“GGGI has connected us to people across the world who are interested in making art from marine debris.”

— Lynette Griffiths – Erub Arts

“The Korean government has thus far made various endeavors to prevent ghost fishing and reduce marine debris. It gives us great pleasure and excitement to join global efforts to tackle this issue by becoming a member of the GGGI.”

— Dong-sik Woo – President of the National Institute of Fisheries Science and Deputy Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, Republic of Korea