Global Ghost Gear Initiative

The Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) is a cross-sectoral alliance committed to driving solutions to the problem of lost and abandoned fishing gear worldwide. The GGGI aims to improve the health of marine ecosystems, protect marine animals, and safeguard human health and livelihoods.

Ghost gear is the term given to fishing equipment that is lost, abandoned or discarded in the oceans. Once in the water, these become a death trap for all marine life and contribute to water pollution. 

Launched in September 2015 and founded on the best available science and technology, the GGGI is the first initiative dedicated to tackling the problem of ghost fishing gear at a global scale. The GGGI’s strength lies in the diversity of its participants including the fishing industry, the private sector, academia, governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations. Every participant has a critical role to play to mitigate ghost gear locally, regionally and globally.

The GGGI works strategically across three working groups to find effective solutions to tackle ghost gear by:

• Building evidence
• Defining best practices and policies
• Catalysing and replicating solutions

Through various partnerships and initiatives, GGGI has initiated and completed numerous projects worldwide. 

An iOS and Android compatible app allows citizens to report the location of abandoned ghost gear allowing GGGI to arrange a cleanup. A Global Data Portal allows access to information on ghost gear on a global scale. 

GGGI encourages the participation of agencies, corporations, academia, governments and private sectors through a membership program. The participation is formalized through a signed support statement, available on the GGGI website.