Belize Collaborates with Global Ghost Gear Initiative to Combat Ghost Fishing

For years we have been hearing of the various elements affecting our marine life and ecosystems.  We have heard of climate change, the importance of mangroves, as well as the dangers of offshore drilling.  One of the elements we rarely hear of is Ghost Fishing.  It is a term that was defined and discussed during a webinar last week, hosted by the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) of which Belize is a member. According to Milton Haughton, the Executive Director for CRFM, ghost fishing is an issue in the wider Caribbean.

Milton Haughton, Executive Director, CRFM: “In the region we have a lot of fishing gear being lost at sea but sometimes the equipment malfunction and they get lost. So they may be lost or abandoned deliberately for various reasons. The problem is these gear, they remain on the ocean and they can, some of them can continue. to fish, to trap and kill fish and other marine organisms. For years, many years, they smother marine habitats. They may move around by the action of ocean currents and really smother and damage important marine habitats and ecosystems. And then they also pose a hazard for navigation. So ghost gear is recognized as among the most or the single most harmful form of marine debris. It is indeed a very serious problem that affects the health of the oceans, the sustainability of fisheries and fish stocks, and ultimately the livelihood of fishers and food security and job security in the region. And it’s no surprise that efforts have been made globally, as well as in the region, to address this problem of ghost fishing.”

Joel Baziuk of the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (Triple G-I) explained in the webinar that the issue of Ghost Fishing is something his organization has been tackling for some years now.  As a result of this, the CRFM has collaborated with the Triple G-I, through the signing of a memorandum of understanding.  The agreement will serve to stem the severe effects of ghost fishing on marine life.  This collaboration was approved back in March, among the member states of the CRFM, to address the underwater problems being faced surrounding abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear also referred to as ALDFG.  It is our understanding that when fishing gears are left for an indefinite period or when they are abandoned in the seas, it causes aquatic pollution, threatens the various marine species and their environment, with a subsequent effect on food security for humans.  Signing on behalf of CRFM was its Executive Director, Milton Haughton.

Milton Haughton, Executive Director, CRFM: “It really marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to protect our fisheries and our marine ecosystems. As we have just heard, ghost fishing is a significant problem and we have to deal with it. The GGGI is doing a fantastic job globally as well as in the region in dealing with it. So we’re extremely pleased to be able to partner with GGGI in strengthening our capacity and efforts to address abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear. This agreement that establishes a framework for us to work together in a collaborative manner. And this is really designed to provide support and help, expert resources and advice to our member states in doing the things that we need to do in order to effectively address this problem of ghost fishing.”

Signing on behalf of the Triple G-I Secretariat was Joel Baziuk.  Baziuk stated that they have been working with several Member States to address ALDFG since 2019, including Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, and Trinidad and Tobago. The work that the CRFM has done for fisheries sustainability across the board in the Caribbean cannot be overstated.

Joel Baziuk, Secretariat, Global Gear Initiative:  “This was sort of the goal, I think, the long-term goal was to how can we actually systematically address this issue in the Caribbean getting an understanding from the presenters who were speaking from the member states on the challenges they’ve been facing on a variety of fishery sustainability issues and seeing how this one could fit into that already outstanding body of work that CRFM has been doing for so long. This really is the combination of the hard work that everyone has put in up to that time. And I say culmination in that this is the signing of this sort of historic agreement and I think that this is a fantastic achievement. But it really marks the beginning of the next step, of the next phase, and where we can work directly with the 17 member states of the CRFM and how can we help, how can we support, how can we work together to address this issue holistically in the region. So we’re absolutely delighted. We’re honored to be here and to have come this far. So thank you to Milton, the CRFM, the entire staff for making this happen.”

The signing coincides with the CRFM’s 20th anniversary.