Why (and where) are ghosts fishing? Mapping areas of commercial gear loss risk in British Columbia

Lost fishing gear is a globally under studied problem, damaging marine ecosystems via habitat degradation, killing marine life, and negatively affecting commercial fishery operations. Since 2018, Canada has been mitigating this damage by funding derelict gear retrieval and responsible disposal programs. In British Columbia (BC), gear retrieval work has been spearheaded by NGOs and environmental consultants, but operations are expensive and funds are often limited. Additionally, a lack of peer-reviewed research has produced a large knowledge gap regarding why and where commercial fishing gear is lost in the province. This research investigates gear loss factors and locations in BC, building on previous predictive transboundary mapping and NGO-led workshops. This work is a collaborative effort with the T Buck Suzuki Foundation (TBSF), an NGO who has received federal funding to charter commercial fishers and their vessels to conduct gear retrievals. Together we surveyed fishers in ports around BC and online during the fall of 2021. We asked fishers to identify and rank reasons for gear loss for their most economically important industries and to mark areas on a map where they have either lost their own gear or come across existing lost gear. The survey data will be modelled to create maps of BC's marine environment indicating high-risk areas for commercial gear loss for different gear types, such as nets, traps and lines. Prior observations of lost gear and their associated environmental variables (e.g. depth, rugosity, vessel traffic etc.) will also be modelled to create a second set of maps to be compared to those generated by the survey data. Ultimately, this work will support gear retrieval operations in the BC, reducing ecological harm and negative industry impacts while providing employment opportunities to fishers through the TBSF.