Ghost nets can drift for years, snagging sea creatures and damaging coral.
Marine Debris
Derelict fishing gear joins the array of human products discarded in the oceans. The United Nations estimates 6.4 million tons of marine debris are added every year.
Ghost Nets and Pots
Modern fishing nets are made from synthetic materials that don't biodegrade. Therefore, gear that gets loose from ships can circulate in the ocean and interface with marine communities for years. Such free-roaming lines--which can be miles long--are called "ghost nets." Similarly, "ghost pots" are abandoned crab traps.
Drifters
Ghost nets can travel widely on ocean currents. For example, the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre can accumulate nets abandoned from anywhere in the North Pacific.
Ecological Effects
Ghost nets can damage delicate marine ecosystems when they snag on coral heads or seagrass pastures. They can also continue to "fish," tangling creatures such as fish, sea turtles, invertebrates, marine mammals and seabirds. Like other ocean debris, they can accumulate on beaches, even those far from population centers.
Other Effects
Lost fishing lines can also snare boat propellers and block water intake.
