The Ocean Cleanup 53d ago

These are eel traps, and we found thousands of them floating in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Eel traps are funnel-shaped fishing devices that capture eels and, due to their shape, prevent escape. Ghost gear, such as lost eel traps, causes entanglement, ingestion, habitat damage, and ongoing ghost fishing, impacting marine life at all levels, including endangered species. Discarded fishing gear makes up the largest part of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. We recently contributed to research analyzing 21,000+ pieces of derelict gear using surveys, forensic analysis, and port investigations. Findings showed that large offshore fleets were the main sources, while smaller coastal fisheries contributed less. This research also emphasized the durability of discarded fishing gear, which can persist for years and travel across the entire ocean basin - making cleanup efforts a pressing need.