Properties and Recyclability of Abandoned Fishing Net-Based Plastic Debris

Abstract

Plastics in marine environments undergo molecular degradation via biocatalytic and photocatalytic mechanisms. Abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) damages marine and coastal environments as well as plant and animal species. This article reviews ghost fishing, ecological damage from marine plastics, recommended recycling practices and alternative usages of derelict fishing gear. Material mixing techniques are proposed to counteract the effect of biocatalytic and photocatalytic biodegradation within the context of plastic fish net recycling. There is a need for a new and rapid “multidimensional molecular characterization” technology to quantify, at a batch level, the extent of photocatalytic or biocatalytic degradation experienced on each recovered fishing net, comprising molecular weight alteration, chemical functional group polydispersity and contaminant presence. Rapid multidimensional molecular characterization enables optimized conventional material mixing of recovered fishing nets. In this way, economically attractive social return schemes can be introduced for used fishing nets, providing an economic incentive for fishers to return conventional fishing nets for recycling.

Ghost Fishing Threatens Biodiversity in an African Great Lake

“…The abandoned gill nets that were predominantly discovered in rocky regions exhibited a considerable range in lengths, spanning from 15 cm to 9,522 cm, implying that these nets were inadvertently lost due to entanglement with rocks (Kozioł et al. 2022) or snapping of the gear due to poor fiber quality of most monofilament nets. As observed by Van der Knaap et al.…”

“…In this study, we discerned that ghost fishing is exclusively instigated by gill nets, suggesting a strong linkage of this issue with the small-scale fisheries prevalent in the region (Hallwass et al 2023). The abandoned gill nets that were predominantly discovered in rocky regions exhibited a considerable range in lengths, spanning from 15 cm to 9,522 cm, implying that these nets were inadvertently lost due to entanglement with rocks (Kozioł et al 2022) or snapping of the gear due to poor fiber quality of most monofilament nets. As observed by Van der Knaap et al (2014), the net fishing gear primarily serves as an indispensable instrument for local fishermen to secure their livelihoods, rendering it implausible to deliberate intentional abandonment.…”

Fisheries Volume 49 Number 5 May 2024

“…In this study, we discerned that ghost fi shing is exclusively instigated by gill nets, suggesting a strong linkage of this issue with the small-scale fi sheries prevalent in the region (Hallwass et al 2023 ). The abandoned gill nets that were predominantly discovered in rocky regions exhibited a considerable range in lengths, spanning from 15 cm to 9,522 cm, implying that these nets were inadvertently lost due to entanglement with rocks (Kozioł et al 2022 ) or snapping of the gear due to poor fi ber quality of most monofi lament nets. As observed by Van der Knaap et al ( 2014 ), the net fi shing gear primarily serves as an indispensable instrument for local fi shermen to secure their livelihoods, rendering it implausible to deliberate intentional abandonment.…”

Microplastic Contamination in Different Marine Species of Bintaro Fish Market, Indonesia

“…These activities all require nets or ropes made of nylon and PE, which possibly explains the large portion of fiber contamination. Up until now, the most commonly used material to manufacture fishing nets has been nylon, which is a polyamide (PA) [43]. Hence, there is a growing amount of research on developing the manufacture of fishing gear from biodegradable materials [44].…”