Ottawa, Ontario - The oceans are at the heart of our way of life - they are a source of culture, recreation, economic development and much more, from coast to coast to coast. Ghost gear, that is, abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear, can damage marine habitat and pose a threat to marine life, including to endangered species like the North Atlantic right whale. To keep our waters healthy and protect the long-term sustainability of Canada's multi-billion dollar fishing industry, it is imperative to work with harvesters and other partners to find solutions to prevent fishing gear loss.
To mark World Oceans Day tomorrow, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced Canada will host the 2nd International Fishing Gear Innovation Summit in February 2025. The two-day event will bring together harvesters, technical experts, other governments, and organizations from around the world to share best practices and discuss innovative tools to prevent the loss of fishing gear and minimize interactions with whales.
The Government of Canada continues to take a leadership role in the fight against ghost gear, including through the Ghost Gear Fund, and will launch consultations in the coming months that will engage partners, Indigenous communities, and other stakeholders on how Fisheries and Oceans Canada can continue to collaborate on preventing ghost gear.
The 2025 International Gear Innovation Summit will be a unique opportunity for harvesters and other experts from around the world to discuss Canada's successes in preventing marine mammal entanglements, and offering best practices for sustainable fishing gear management.
