Dear Subscriber First Name,

The GGGI has had a dynamic spring and summer! We supported the Hawai’i Pacific University’s Center for Marine Debris Research in creating a short documentary highlighting their Bounty Program, participated in various international in-person and virtual events, and continued work on our North American Net Collection Initiative in Latin America. We have some updates from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, GloLitter, and two Hawaiian GGGI members to share. Finally, we would like to welcome six new members to the GGGI!

The GGGI loves celebrating the successes of its members! As always, if you have any ALDFG related news that you would like to share in the next newsletter, please email caitie@ghostgear.org.

The Global Ghost Gear Initiative® and Ocean Conservancy recently supported the Derelict Fishing Gear Bounty Program hosted by the Hawai’i Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research, including the creation of a short documentary highlighting the program. This outstanding program has been running for several years, supporting local fishers to retrieve abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear floating towards Hawai’i from the North Pacific Gyre before it impacts Hawai’i’s valuable coral reef ecosystems. Learn more about the program here. 

The U.S. SailGP team has partnered with Ocean Conservancy’s Protect Where We Play initiative to support the GGGI. This is part of the team’s efforts in the SailGP Impact League, the championship’s season-long competition recognizing teams that drive measurable environmental and social impact alongside performance on the water. This collaboration brings together elite sports and ocean advocacy to raise awareness of ALDFG and the work that the GGGI is doing globally through storytelling, athlete engagement, and live events throughout the 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship. The partnership will mobilize fans and stakeholders to better understand the issue and support solutions being advanced through the GGGI’s work in the United States and globally.

We were on the ground in New York to support the U.S. SailGP team at the Fan Zone during the New York circuit May 29th-June 1st where we discussed ghost gear with fans. Ocean Conservancy’s Chief Brand and Communications Officer, Jenna DiPaolo, and GGGI Associate Director, Joel Baziuk, also sat on a live panel with U.S. SailGP Team Strategist, Andrew Campbell, to connect storytelling, sports and fandom to the critical ocean issue of ghost gear. It was a fantastic opportunity to bring an athlete and high-performance lens on how sports depend on healthy environments and can inspire action beyond competition.

Following the New York event, SailGP US’ Hans Henken, the starting flight controller of the current SailGPUS Team, visited the Bureo recycling facility in Ventura, California alongside GGGI Director, Ingrid Giskes, during an impact visit on June 5th. During his visit Hans learned more about the North American Net Collection Initiative, how the partnership with Bureo has had significant impact in Mexico, and how fishing nets are recycled into consumer products. We had a fruitful discussion about the role that the sailing industry can play in being stewards for the ocean, and what products and equipment could be made from recycled materials in the future. For more information about the visit, please read the article here.

The 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC11) took place in Mombassa, Kenya, June 16-18. This year’s theme was "Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future," continuing the tradition of driving concrete commitments for ocean protection.

GGGI continued to elevate and advance ALDFG diplomacy, highlighting the urgent need for action from international policy governance (such as the global plastics treaty and the IMO) to local activities. Ocean Conservancy Vice President of Conservation, Chris Dorsett, represented GGGI, meeting with Member States and participating in side events to advance ALDFG diplomacy.

We were honored to participate as guest speaker in a side event hosted by the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) with the generous support of the Republic of Korea, titled “Towards UNOC-4: Strengthening Regional Action on Marine Plastic Pollution through the Regional Seas Programme in the Western Indian Ocean and East Asian Seas Regions.” Alongside GGGI member, Watamu Marine Association, Chris showcased community-driven examples from African partners, demonstrating practical examples to effectively prevent, mitigate, and remediate the occurrence and impacts of ALDFG. This opportunity highlighted the importance of collaboration and coordination in managing ghost gear and advancing effective solutions.

GGGI Membership Specialist Caitie Frenkel hosted Episode 15 of Let’s Talk Ghost Gear on April 28. The topic was ‘Transforming ALDFG into Art and Handicrafts’ and featured short presentations from four GGGI members who specialized in creating art and other items from ALDFG. The presentations were followed by a panel discussion, where presenters answered questions from a live audience and had an open discussion on the topic. The episode’s panelists included:

• Beatriz Mattiuzzo - Founder, Marulho (Brazil)

• Ayamba Achare Elvic - Founder, Environment and Food Foundation (Cameroon)

• Lynette Griffiths - Artist, Ghost Net Collective (Australia)

• D.G. Mickey Steward, PhD - Vice President of the Board of Directors, Fundacion Hagamos Mas (Mexico)

Click here to view the webinar

The GGGI, in collaboration with colleagues from Ocean Outcomes, hosted the second of two fisher-focused Abandoned, Lost or Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) workshops in California as part of our current NOAA Large Marine Debris grant. This workshop was held May 12-13, 2026, in Oceanside, California, and focused on the spiny lobster fishery. Attendees included seafood harvesters, fisheries managers, NGOs, and several fishers from the Punta Abreojos Fishermen’s Cooperative, adding a crucial cross-border perspective. The goal of the workshop was to expand uptake of preventative, mitigative, and restorative best-practice measures described in GGGI’s Best Practice Framework for the Management of Fishing Gear (C-BPF).

This workshop built upon the relationships and learnings cultivated via the first workshop in Oxnard, California, held in August 2025. It featured a series of presentations from the GGGI and local organizations, as well as group activities and discussions to identify the key causes of gear loss, what best practices are already in place, planning for future prevention efforts, and developing practical, collaborative solutions to the challenges identified.

Building trust among harvesters, fisheries managers, NGOs, and others involved in the space is crucial to ensure that solutions implemented will stand the test of time. Our hope is that the outcome of the workshop will result in improved coordination and understanding among all stakeholders, and, ultimately, less gear loss in cases where it’s avoidable. We wish to extend our thanks to Ocean Outcomes for facilitating this workshop, as well as the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, the California Lobster Trap Fishermen’s Association, the Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for helping to make this event a success.

Seafood Expo Global - Barcelona, Spain

The GGGI, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), and Tri Marine collaborated to introduce the Ghost Gear Blueprint for the Tuna Supply Chain at Seafood Expo Global Barcelona April 21 - 23. The Tuna Blueprint was introduced on April 22 and showcases Tri Marine’s adoption of various best practices and provides a roadmap for industry, with tools to be rolled out throughout 2026. GGGI also hosted an Industry Roundtable on the last day of the Expo where seafood supply chain members came together to share their progress on the issue.

Global Partnership on Marine Litter Webinar

On May 20, the Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML) hosted a webinar of their Global Plastics Hub Country Dashboard and how this platform supports evidence-based policy. GPML showed the platform’s currently available data and illustrated ways to use the information while highlighting current data gaps. GGGI Associate Director, Joel Baziuk, and GGGI Policy Specialist, Hannah Pragnell-Raasch, participated in this event virtually. Watch the webinar here.

Marine Environment Protection Committee’s 84th Session

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) held its 84th session from April 27 - May 1 in London. GGGI’s Global Policy Lead, Hannah Pragnell-Raasch, virtually joined Member States and Observers to cover an ambitious agenda to address marine pollution in shipping including greenhouse gas emissions, decarbonization, and marine plastic pollution such as ALDFG.

As a member of the Clean Shipping Coalition, GGGI is calling for urgent action on the most harmful form of marine plastic pollution, ALDFG, to fulfil IMO’s commitment to prevent marine plastic litter from ships. As such, we welcome MEPC 84’s adoption of the circular on fishing gear marking as an important initial step forward on this critical body of work. However, we are disappointed that no adequate time was afforded to meaningfully consider and advance proposals on fishing gear despite the support from numerous Member States. As we now prepare for PPR 14, we reiterate the need to develop mandatory goal-based gear-marking and lost gear reporting together in order to be effective within a comprehensive governance framework that includes mandatory global measures.

The Committee adopted the 2026 Strategy and the Action Plan to Address Marine Plastic Litter from Ships, reaffirming IMO's goal of zero plastic-waste discharges to sea from ships by 2030. The Strategy and Action Plan work to improve port reception facilities and waste processing, strengthen regulatory compliance, and expand public awareness, seafarer training and international cooperation, including targeted technical assistance and capacity-building. It updates and supersedes the 2021 Strategy and 2025 Action Plan for addressing marine litter.

New Brunswick Ghost Gear Workshop Report Available

Caitie Frenkel, GGGI Membership Specialist, attended a workshop titled “ From Sea to Solution: Working Together on Ghost Gear Management in Atlantic Canada” held in Shediac, New Brunswick, in March. This event was hosted by Nature New Brunswick and the New Brunswick Environmental Network and brought together various stakeholders in the region to understand ALDFG in Atlantic Canada and identify solutions. They recently published their findings in a summary report in both French and English. We look forward to their continued work on ALDFG in the region.

OSPAR Expert Workshop on Dolly Ropes

On June 3-4, GGGI’s Global Policy Lead, Hannah Pragnell-Raasch, virtually participated in OSPAR’s Expert Workshop on Dolly Ropes—Identifying Alternatives and Strategies to Phase Out Dolly Ropes in North-East Atlantic Fisheries. Dolly ropes are bundles of synthetic protective threads, typically polyethylene, used by beam trawlers (commercial fishing vessels that tow specialized nets held open by heavy steel beams, targeting bottom-dwelling species) to shield fishing nets from seabed abrasion. Because they fray and tear, they release massive amounts of non-biodegradable microplastics into the sea.

This measure falls under the Oslo Convention/Paris Convention ‘s (OSPAR’s) commitment to reduce the impact of marine litter from fisheries and forms part of OSPAR’s wider efforts to prevent and substantially reduce marine litter across the North-East Atlantic. OSPAR agreed to a measure aimed at phasing out the use of dolly ropes as chafing gear in fisheries. The measure encourages Contracting Parties and relevant stakeholders to phase out the use of dolly ropes and promote technically and economically feasible alternatives that do not contribute to plastic pollution or harm marine species and habitats. Learn more via OSPAR’s website and newsletter.

OSPAR Intersessional Correspondence Group for Marine Litter

Contracting Parties and Observer organizations to the OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic met for the Intersessional Correspondence Group for Marine Litter hosted by Norway from June 9-12. From assessment and monitoring of marine litter to the Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter, the four-day meeting covered a productive agenda, including specific items on ALDFG. Global Policy Lead, Hannah Pragnell-Raasch, joined virtually to contribute to the proceedings and shared updates on GGGI’s engagement at key international policy fora including the Plastics Treaty and IMO’s MEPC and PPR.

As an Observer organization to OSPAR, GGGI applauds the ongoing commitment from Contracting Parties to addressing marine litter, particularly that of ALDFG in fisheries and aquaculture, with the urgency and prioritization it requires.

South America Reducing Marine Plastic Litter

In May, the GGGI participated in the “Second South America Regional Task Force Workshop” addressing sea-based marine plastic litter. This task force is part of the GloLitter Partnerships Project led by the IMO and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The event was held in Santiago, Chile, from May 25 - 29 and hosted delegations from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Discussion topics included: National Action Plans for marine litter; fishing gear management and marking systems; port reception facilities and waste management; approaches for end-of-life fishing gear; and reporting of lost fishing gear. Participants also visited Comberplast, a Chilean plastics recycling company that transforms discarded fishing nets, ropes, and aquaculture plastics from Patagonia through its Atando Cabos initiative.

Gear Loss Prevention in Bahía Tortugas, Baja California Sur, Mexico

The GGGI and Buoy.Fish implemented a pilot project in Bahía Tortugas, Baja California Sur, Mexico, aiming to reduce fishing gear loss, improve the recovery of traps and nets, and enhance the operational efficiency of fishing activities. With support from local partner ECORED, the project deployed 130 smart buoys that enable fishers to track traps and gillnets in real time through long-range communication networks. This technology helps prevent gear loss and reduces the risk of ghost fishing by facilitating the timely location and retrieval of fishing gear.

Three fishing cooperatives (Bahía Tortugas, La Purísima, and Emancipación) participated in the initiative. On April 18, 30 fishers attended a Best Practices Framework workshop and received training on the use of the smart buoy system in Bahía Tortugas, a community widely recognized as a successful example of community-based fisheries management. Local fishing cooperatives hold exclusive fishing concessions and have established sustainable resource management practices. The area is located within the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve, one of Mexico’s largest protected areas, which supports important populations of gray whales, sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals. The project demonstrates how innovative technology can strengthen sustainable fisheries while helping protect ecologically significant marine environments.

Learn more about the project by watching this video.

Baja California Advancing End-of-Life Fishing Gear Management

The Baja California State Secretariat of Environment and Sustainable Development hosted a meeting in Tijuana, Mexico, on April 28 to discuss end-of-life fishing gear (EOLFG). GGGI and project partner Humint presented the results of their technical and regulatory analysis for the disposal and management of EOLFG. This meeting laid the groundwork for future action and identified key opportunities and needs to advance EOLFG management in the state. As one of Mexico’s leading fishing states, Baja California is strategically positioned to drive innovation in end-of-life fishing gear management. Its extensive coastlines, diverse fisheries, and rich marine biodiversity make it well-suited to lead efforts to prevent ghost gear and promote circular solutions for the fishing sector.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced the 2026-2029 round of their Ghost Gear Fund as part of Canada’s “A Force of Nature” strategy. DFO will provide $15 million CAD over three years to support Canada’s commitment to preventing and mitigating the risk of ghost fishing and encouraging fisheries sustainability. Projects will be funded under the program pillars of ALDFG retrieval, responsible disposal, and gear acquisition and/or development of innovative technologies. Since 2020, the Ghost Gear Fund has financed 144 projects for a total of $58.4 million CAD. Learn more about the DFO Ghost Gear Fund here.

The GloLitter Partnerships Project, a collaboration between the IMO and the FAO, recently published several ghost gear fact sheets. These publicly available fact sheets fall under Activities 4.2.1 and 4.2.3, focused on testing gear modifications to reduce ghost fishing in small-scale fisheries and creating a best-practice publication for global dissemination. The fact sheets under Activity 4.2.1 highlight key findings from fishing gear modifications in small-scale gillnet, crab pot, and lobster trap fisheries in Kenya, Indonesia, and Brazil.

The fact sheets are publicly available in the following links

• https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cd8084en

• https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cd8435en

• https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cd8527en

• https://oceanlitter.imo.org/resources/knowledge-products

Hawai’i-Taiwan Marine Debris Partnership Forum

Hawai’i Pacific University’s Center for Marine Debris Research (HPU CMDR) is hosting the Hawai’i-Taiwan Marine Debris Partnership Forum on August 6th in Honolulu, Hawai’i. This event will include Hawai’i’s first International Derelict Fishing Gear Prevention Workshop, a press conference, and the signing of a new international collaboration agreement with Taiwan’s Ocean Conservation Administration. This Memorandum of Understanding will strengthen collaboration in marine conservation, information exchange, capacity building, and marine debris solutions throughout the Pacific region. Virtual attendance options will be provided to registered participants closer to the event date.

Click here to register

Pacific Whale Foundation Marine Debris Volunteer List

Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF) has served as the designated Marine Debris Rapid Response organization for the island of Maui, Hawaiʻi, for the past two years, removing over 24,000 pounds of large derelict fishing gear, including conglomerate ghost nets and drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (dFADs), from local shorelines. As a nonprofit rooted in cetacean research and ocean protection, PWF understands firsthand the devastating impact ALDFG has on marine ecosystems. We welcome anyone passionate about tackling ghost gear to join our volunteer Rapid Response Team. Volunteers are alerted via text when a debris removal is needed and play a direct role in protecting Hawaiʻi's coastlines and the wildlife that depends on them.

Click here to join the team

Questions? Contact them at conservation@pacificwhale.org

Welcome To Our New GGGI Members!

The GGGI membership continues to grow! Please welcome our newest members: Helen of the Sea, The Ocean Cleanup, Nuplas Solutions, SeaMe, the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, and the Conch Republic Marine Army! We look forward to our future work together!