Unveiling the Hidden Threat: Ghost Gear's Impact on Our Oceans
In the serene waters off the coast of Maine, a hidden menace lurks beneath the waves. These 'monsters,' as some call them, are not mythical creatures but a real-life problem that affects our oceans and the fishing industry. Emma Weed, a dedicated program manager, is on a mission to tackle this issue head-on.
With the support of local fishermen, Weed is tracking down 'ghost gear' - a term for lost or abandoned fishing equipment that poses a significant threat. The most astonishing example? A 'gear ball,' a massive collection of debris that can weigh an incredible 56,000 pounds! It's like a scene from a cartoon, with these marine chimeras growing larger as they roll along, swallowing up anything in their path.
"It's a sea monster in its own right," Weed explains. "It grabs onto anything nearby, usually rope and traps, and through the tides and currents, they become entangled. This can drag active gear into the mess." The largest gear ball found in the Boothbay Region weighed a staggering 3,700 pounds.
Weed, based in Boothbay, works for the Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation (GOMLF), a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing this problem. She collaborates with fishermen as part of the Gear Grab initiative, a collaborative effort involving multiple organizations to remove equipment from the seafloor and coastal communities.
"Our goal is to work hand-in-hand with the fisheries to understand the extent of the problem and its impact on their catch. We want to identify the issues and find solutions together," she says.
The scale of the issue is global. According to the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWFN), at least 10% of marine litter is fishing waste. Each year, an estimated 5.7% of fishing nets, 8.6% of traps, and an alarming 29% of fishing lines used worldwide are lost. WWFN estimates that between 500,000 and 1 million tons of fishing gear enter our oceans annually. In the Gulf of Maine alone, approximately 175,000 lobster traps are lost every year, as reported by GOMLF.
This gear not only represents lost investments and missed catches but also poses hazards. Derelict equipment can snag other fishing gear, hinder navigation, and continue to capture sea life, including unintended species. Synthetic materials, such as the coating on lobster traps, can break down, releasing microplastics that pollute the water and disrupt marine ecosystems.
Devyn Campbell, a fisherman from Boothbay Harbor, has been involved in ghost gear removal for years. He emphasizes the importance of this work, stating, "You feel good about getting rid of that much plastic. Many people don't realize the trouble it can cause. Some older folks might say, 'Oh, it just disappears. Why bother?' But it doesn't disappear; it just breaks down into smaller pieces. That vinyl coating is PVC, and it turns into microplastics."
Campbell, who started working with GOMLF in 2025, is one of about 40 fishermen involved in the program. The initiative facilitates the cleanup of gear from the seafloor, coastlines, and even homes. Workers remove derelict equipment and dispose of it responsibly in local landfills and recycling centers. If the gear is still usable and identifiable, Campbell aims to return it to its owners.
The program, funded by philanthropic organizations, private donors, and grants, operates from late fall to early spring. Since October, approximately 45 to 55 tons of material have been removed from the Maine coast, with Campbell aiming to haul around 30 to 40 traps daily.
"Normally, this time of year, we'd be idle. But now, I get to move the boat for a few months, which is great. It's a big help during the winter, and it's the perfect time to do it. Many organizations try to tackle this in the summer, but in the winter, there's less gear in the way... Most live traps are out of the way, so you can go to areas usually filled with gear and just tow up all the ghost gear."
Campbell's work often takes him nearshore, searching for gear nestled in valleys or the backs of ridges after storms, or concentrated in traffic lanes where buoys have been severed by boats. He uses a grapple with steel prongs attached to a heavy chain, making several passes to retrieve as much gear as possible from the seafloor.
Apart from fishing gear, Campbell has made some unusual discoveries, including a 600-pound anchor, giant lobsters stuck in traps, electrical cables, and numerous tires. He and his crew have primarily focused on cleaning up the tip of Spruce Point, while other teams of fishermen work around Southport and nearby areas.
Even fishermen not directly involved in the project contribute by providing tips and coordinates where they suspect gear might be located. "They're out on the water the most. They know where things are and when it's safe to go. We want to compensate these fishermen for their time and knowledge of how to locate and remove problem areas," Weed says.
For Weed, giving back to the fishing community is a crucial aspect of her work. Coming from a family of Stonington-area fishermen and waterfront workers spanning over 10 generations, she understands the importance of supporting both the fishing community and the ocean they depend on.
"I want to showcase and highlight the fishermen as stewards of the ocean, as I've known them growing up and across generations. Together, we can lift each other up and demonstrate how they can be a vital part of the solution."
This initiative is a powerful example of collaboration between organizations, fishermen, and the community to address a critical environmental issue. But here's where it gets controversial: Should we solely rely on voluntary efforts, or is there a need for stricter regulations to prevent ghost gear in the first place? And this is the part most people miss: How can we ensure that the fishing industry and marine ecosystems thrive together? What are your thoughts on this complex issue? Feel free to share your opinions and insights in the comments below!
