1. Biodegradability and sustainable fisheries: The case for static gear in the UK Channel fishery.
- Author
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Drakeford, Benjamin M., Forse, Andy, and Failler, Pierre
- Subjects
SUSTAINABLE fisheries ,FISHERY gear ,MARINE debris ,FISH industry ,FISHERIES ,FISHERY management ,ECONOMIC impact - Abstract
Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is created by the fishing industry and directly impacts fishers' livelihoods through ghost fishing, entanglements and presents navigational hazards. In addition, ALDFG creates a myriad of environmental and socioeconomic impacts that affect fisheries and other commercial sectors operating in the marine environment, as well as recreational users and land-based sectors e.g. tourism. Given the inefficiencies of current approaches to deal with ALDFG, urgent solutions are required. Biodegradability, as a design feature of fishing gear, is not a new idea, but it is one that requires further research to fully understand the potential role of biodegradable fishing gear (BFG) to mitigate (various) environmental and economic impacts of ALDFG. In this paper, we focus on the role of BFG in the Channel static gear fishery, engaging stakeholders through one-to-one interviews at the quayside to consider their views on the role of BFG in their fishery. This research demonstrates the complexity of the problem and the solution. By collecting the fishery's concerns, enthusiasm and requirements regarding BFG it adds a powerful new strand to the debate, moving it on from simply a 'cost to replace' to ensuring that it meets the detailed requirements of a fishery that relies on specificity to earn a living. • Fishing gear is estimated to total 27% of all marine litter in EU sea basins. • Fishers have reservations on the performance of BFG relative to traditional gear. • Highly specific concerns over the choice of BFG compared to the current selection. • BFG is not a 'silver bullet' solution but deserves further attention. • Overall, fishers are ready to trial BFG in the Channel static gear fishery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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