A new study commissioned by World Animal Protection UK is the first assessment of how ghost fishing gear is affecting the coastline of Cornwall and posing a threat to marine life.

A key finding of the research is that when interaction and entanglement risks were combined, 26% of all ghost gear items recorded posed a serious threat to marine animals.

Abandoned and lost fishing gear, known as ghost gear, encompasses lines, nets, pots and ropes which are a threat to marine animals and coastal wildlife. Ghost gear is known to travel long distances along ocean currents, with lost gear from the USA and Newfoundland being spotted on beaches across the UK.

A total of 4,226 new ghost gear items were recorded by volunteers on land and by World Animal Protection funded boat-based surveys during the 12 month study period, amounting to 49,917 litres or 51 tonnes from 147 different locations.  30 tonnes can equate to the size of a 45ft sperm whale. The researchers were able to remove 14 tonnes of ghost gear during their research, reducing the immediate risk to marine animals in the area, particularly to seals (risk dropped from 47% to 24%).

The work was undertaken by Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust to support World Animal Protection’s Sea Change campaign.