By Spencer Sterritt

left behind

Nanaimo-based association tackling ghost gear left in Pacific waters

Jul 16, 2020 | 4:45 PM

NANAIMO — Prawn fishermen will have a better sense of how much waste is being left behind after a federally funded study.

The Pacific Prawn Fishermen’s Association, based in Nanaimo, received federal funds earlier in July from the Ghost Gear Fund.

Association executive director Mike Atkins told NanaimoNewsNOW said the study will help paint an in-depth picture of what’s being left in Pacific waters.

“The government has all this money for collecting ghost gear and marine plastics, but there’s really not much data on how big the problem is and where the gear is,” Atkins said.

“We suspect the prawn fisheries is not a huge contributor to the marine ghost gear problem, but we want the data to prove that.”

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Atkins said prawn traps can be left behind after getting caught on reefs when being pulled up from the water.

A release from the federal government noted ghost gear is a deadly problem in Canadian waters which poses a serious danger to marine animals and the environment.

Ghost gear is estimated to account for roughly 70 per cent of all micro-plastics in the ocean.

The Association is one of six organizations on Vancouver Island receiving money from the $8.3 million Ghost Gear Fund.

The prawn fishing season ended Thursday, July 16 after a COVID-delayed season.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt