Mexico Joins the GGGI
Mexico Joins the Global Ghost Gear Initiative to Tackle Most Prevalent Form of Ocean Plastic Pollution
Today, the government of Mexico announced it has joined the GGGI, the world’s only cross-sectoral alliance dedicated to tackling the problem of abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (also known as “ghost gear”) internationally. Mexico joins Canada, the United States, and 14 other national governments as a member of the initiative.
“As one of the world’s most populous countries with over 9,000 kilometers (5,800 miles) of coastline, Mexico’s commitment to stopping ghost gear through the GGGI is a tremendous win for the ocean and for the communities that depend on it. We are excited to have them onboard as a member, and we look forward to opportunities for additional collaboration on this pressing issue across North America.”
- Ingrid Giskes, GGGI Director
This commitment from all levels of the Mexican government – including the Secretariat of Economy, the Secretariat of the Armed Navy of Mexico, the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation and the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources, as well as agencies such as CONAPESCA, INAPESCA, PROFEPA and CONANP – will address the ghost gear issue holistically across the country. Mexico is also a member of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, which examines the problems derived from ghost gear. Since 2016, the Mexican government has worked with the GGGI and WWF Mexico to remove more than 62 tons of ghost nets from the Sea of Cortez, home to the critically endangered vaquita.
“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 of Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Ministry
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. Unfortunately, ghost gear is the single deadliest form of marine debris to sea life, continuing to catch and kill organisms long after it has been lost or discarded in the ocean. It is also one of the most prevalent: recent studies indicate that ghost fishing gear makes up 46-70% of all floating macroplastics in the ocean by weight. Globally, an estimated 90% of species caught in lost gear are of commercial value.
As a GGGI member, Mexico will work closely with the initiative to develop a national ghost gear action plan, including taking steps to better understand the scope of the problem in Mexican waters by mapping hotspot areas for gear loss and exploring opportunities to develop solutions across North American, Caribbean and Latin American countries.