Canada invests in ghost fishing gear removal and marine ecosystem protection
New funding will support efforts to remove ghost fishing gear from Canadian waters and protect marine habitats
Canada is investing $15 million (U.S. $10.8 million) over three years to expand efforts to prevent, locate and remove abandoned fishing gear, known as ghost fishing gear, from marine environments.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced a new call for proposals under the Ghost Gear Fund, which supports projects aimed at cleaning up fishing debris and developing solutions to reduce gear loss.
Ghost fishing gear, which can be lost due to poor weather, conflicts with other fishing equipment or snagging on the seafloor, poses risks to marine mammals, fisheries and ocean habitats.
The funding builds on existing work launched in 2020. Since then, more than 2,563 tons of ghost gear and over 985 kilometers of rope have been removed from Canadian waters.
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“As we build Canada strong, we are protecting what matters most, including our magnificent waters,” said The Honorable Joanne Thompson, Canada’s Minister of Fisheries. “Cleaning up this debris will help our fisheries to continue to thrive. I want to thank our partners and Indigenous communities for their efforts so far to clean up and find solutions to tackle the issue of ghost gear.”
The Ghost Gear Fund works with industry, Indigenous communities and coastal partners to support cleanup and prevention projects intended to protect marine ecosystems and support sustainable fisheries.
“With new projects supported by this funding, I look forward to all the good work still to come,” Thompson said.
Study: Southwest Nova Scotia waters ‘littered’ with ghost fishing gear
The Honorable Julie Dabrusin, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, said the funding reflects a broader effort to address marine pollution while supporting coastal communities.
“Protecting Canada’s oceans and the communities that rely on them is a shared responsibility,” Dabrusin said. “Through investments like the Ghost Gear Fund, our government is taking concrete action to remove harmful debris from our waters, while helping to prevent it in the future.”
Commercial harvesters in Canada are required to report lost fishing gear to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, helping authorities and partners recover gear and, in some cases, return it to its owner.
More information on how to apply can be found at Ghost Gear Fund application guidelines.
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