2015

  • Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) is officially launched by World Animal Protection in September, 2015 at Goodenough College in London, UK.

  • 54 member organizations from around the world sign the GGGI Statement of Support.

  • GGGI’s three work pillars are defined: 1) Building Evidence; 2) Defining Best Practice and Informing Policy; 3) Catalyzing and Replicating Solutions.

  • At this point, ghost gear is quite a niche issue. Some work is being done, but largely in isolation with no cohesive drive to push this issue to the front of the global agenda. The GGGI aims to change that paradigm.

2017

  • Third GGGI annual meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand.

  • Membership grows to 66 organizations.

  • First UN Ocean Conference in New York sees 12 governments officially join the GGGI (Dominican Republic, Independent State of Samoa, Kingdom of Belgium, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Tonga, New Zealand, Republic of Palau, Republic of Panama, Republic of Vanuatu, Tuvalu, United Kingdom).

  • GGGI working groups lay the foundation for GGGI data portal, Ghost Gear reporter app and Best Practice Framework for the Management of Fishing Gear.

  • First ever GGGI-led panel discussion at the SeaWeb Sustainability Summit in Seattle.

  • GGGI signature projects in Vanuatu and Indonesia begin.

2019

  • Fifth GGGI annual meeting held in Panama City, Panama.

  • Membership grows to 102 organizations.

  • GGGI transitions from World Animal Protection to Ocean Conservancy as its new host organization.

  • Joanna Toole Solutions Award launched in collaboration with Joanna Toole Foundation and World Animal Protection in memory of GGGI co-founder Joanna Toole.

  • Norway joins the GGGI as the 15th member government.

  • GGGI introduces the Expert Advisory Council.

  • GGGI building evidence working group publishes its first paper on ghost gear.

2021

  • Membership grows to 122 organizations.

  • Iceland joins the GGGI as the 18th member government.

  • GGGI releases fully updated Best Practice Framework for the Management of Fishing Gear, and the Best Practice Framework for the Management of Aquaculture Gear.

  • GGGI, WWF and Ocean Outcomes release Ghost Gear Legislation Analysis.

  • North American Net Collection Initiative (NANCI) launches as our first transboundary GGGI signature project.

  • GGGI signature project in the Pacific Northwest launches.

  • GGGI Small Grants Program officially launches.

  • GGGI becomes a strategic partner to the GloLitter Partnerships Program.

2016

  • Second GGGI annual meeting held in Miami, Florida, USA.

  • Membership grows to 60 organizations.

  • Lots of debate in GGGI working groups around linking work around the world and adding value from different perspectives.

  • Still little if any conversation on ghost gear at major ocean and seafood conferences.

  • GGGI adopts a clear vision – bringing everyone around the table to develop lasting, clear eyed, long-term solutions to ghost gear.

2018

  • Fourth GGGI annual meeting held in Bali, Indonesia.

  • Membership grows to 95 organizations.

  • Canada and Montserrat join the GGGI as the 13th and 14th member governments.

  • Version 1.0 of our global data portal is launched in March at the 6th International Marine Debris Conference (6IMDC) in San Diego

  • 6IMDC has 9 sessions on ghost gear featuring GGGI members from around the world.

  • GGGI launches revised website with various resources and guidance documents freely available.

  • GGGI attends Seafood Expo North America for the first time, where Thai Union joins the GGGI and begins working on the seafood industry’s first dedicated work plan to address ghost gear.

  • GGGI presents at the plenary at the Our Ocean Conference in Bali, and makes commitments to address ghost gear at a global level.

  • GGGI signature projects in Maine, USA, Myanmar and the Caribbean begin.

2020

  • Membership grows to 117 organizations.

  • United States of America and Mexico join the GGGI as the 16th and 17th member governments.

  • Joanna Toole Internship launches with support from Joanna Toole Foundation.

  • GGGI provides technical guidance to ghost gear related measures in Global Seafood Alliance’s Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard.

  • GGGI develops first suite of online training tools for the seafood industry.

  • GGGI and WWF release ghost gear guidance document Effective Ghost Gear Solutions: Learning From what Works.

  • in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, GGGI begins hosting virtual roundtables to progress ghost gear agenda.

2022

  • Membership grows to 130 organizations.

  • Spain and South Korea join the GGGI as the 19th and 20th member governments.

  • GGGI releases fully updated Best Practice Framework for the Management of Fishing Gear, and the Best Practice Framework for the Management of Aquaculture Gear.

  • GGGI, WWF and Ocean Outcomes release Ghost Gear Legislation Analysis.

  • North American Net Collection Initiative (NANCI) launches as our first transboundary GGGI signature project.

  • GGGI signature project in the Pacific Northwest launches.

  • GGGI Small Grants Program officially launches.

  • GGGI becomes a strategic partner to the GloLitter Partnerships Program.