Abandoned Fishing Gear (Ghost Nets)

Abandoned fishing gear—ghost nets, lines, and traps—kills indiscriminately after being lost, with an estimated 640,000 tonnes added annually. A single net can entangle marine animals for decades, a persistence that outperforms #3 Industrial Wastewater's acute toxicity by extending harm for many years. These nets trap 45% of all marine mammal species recorded, causing deaths that are 30% higher than from plastic entanglement alone.