Report on good practices to prevent and reduce marine plastic litter from fishing activities

Abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is recognised as the most harmful form of marine plastic litter. If left unmanaged, ALDFG can threaten food security, livelihoods, and human health. This report provides an overview of the status of the fishing related marine plastic litter problem, specifically ALDGF or “ghost gear”, and situate its impact and contribution to the broader sea-based marine plastic litter issue. Using the good practice categories identified by the Global Ghost Gear Initiative’s Best Practice Framework for the Management of Fishing Gear for Capture Fisheries, ten case studies are presented exemplifying key good practices for the prevention, mitigation, and remediation of ALDFG. Based on these, the report provides recommendations of mechanisms that can be implemented by countries aiming to prevent, mitigate and remediate fishing related marine plastic litter.