We are actively working to address the issue of recreational ghost gear in Australian coastal areas, rivers, lakes and estuaries and coastline.
In a bid to prevent litter entering our waterways we're working with the recreational fishing sector at every level: from gear manufacturers and retailers to policy makers, volunteer groups, and the fishing community.
This year, in partnership with OzFish, we’ve developed a NSW Recreational Fishing Community and Industry Litter Prevention Strategy - a first step towards a national action plan to address this issue at a larger scale.
However, understanding the pathway to stopping this litter at its source is only part of the solution, especially given the diversity within the recreational fishing community. To drive meaningful change, we’ve launched two demonstration projects that show how discarded gear can be repurposed, helping to raise awareness and support for circular solutions within the recreational fishing sector.
Yabby
The popularity of yabby fishing across Australia has put pressure on native wildlife which can unwittingly get caught inside opera house traps.
The Opera house traps are now illegal across New South Wales and South Australia with the alternative open-top pyramid nets or hoop nets replacing them - as a more environmentally friendly option that allows non-target species to escape if they swim in.
The Yabby Trap Round-Up program, delivered in partnership with OzFish, was created to tackle the threat posed by illegal opera house nets use - protecting native wildlife and reducing pollution in our waterways.
In New South Wales, fishers were invited to swap their old traps for fishing lures, while in South Australia, where the ban was more recent, the nets were exchanged for eco-friendly pyramid nets. Since its launch in 2023, the program has successfully collected 5,565 nets, which have been dismantled by volunteers.
The program has seen 41 community events and roundups across both NSW and SA, engaging 19 organisations, councils, and community groups. This broad collaboration has played a crucial role in raising awareness about sustainable yabby fishing and preventing harm to local ecosystems.
Crab
Lost, abandoned or discarded crab pots, also known as ghost gear, pose a major threat to the health of marine ecosystems.
Wildlife, such as crocodiles, sharks, turtles and birds inadvertently get caught in the pots and drown, yet all these species play a pivotal role in maintaining the resilience of our ecosystems and fish productivity.
The Great Aussie Crab Pot Review, delivered in partnership with OzFish Unlimited, has been developed to tackle the problem of recreational ghost gear crab pots littering Australia’s waterways.
Last year we hosted a volunteer experience trip to Northern Australia, where volunteers and Indigenous ranger teams worked across two locations to clean up ghost gear and other marine debris in high-visitor locations. Gear collected on these trips is being recycled alongside nets from the Yabby Trap Round-Up to create products that support habitat restoration efforts. This circular approach helps turn waste into a resource while addressing the environmental impacts of ghost gear.
As a part of the Review an online survey was promoted, engaging with over 375 recreational fishers nationwide, to better understand the source, scale and hotspots of this issue.
This year, the Review has been hosting roundtable discussions—with recreational fishers, manufacturers and retailers and policymakers—to develop long-term strategies for preventing ghost gear crab pots from littering our waterways. These discussions will be informed by the data collected in the survey, ensuring that all stakeholders are part of a solution that benefits both the environment and the recreational fishing community.
Our systematic approach seeks to restore community resilience and achieve a future where people and nature thrive together.
GhostNets
Ghost nets pose a severe threat to marine ecosystems
1. No ghost gear from international sources washing up in Northern Australia by 2030
2. No ghost gear from recreational fishing in Australia by 2030
3. A circular program for end-of-life fishing gear in the commercial sector by 2030