Safe Handling of Derelict Fishing Gear

Derelict fishing gear — nets, longlines, crab and lobster traps, and associated hardware that has been lost or abandoned — represents a distinct category of harbor debris that requires specific handling procedures. Unlike general litter, derelict gear can pose entanglement hazards to personnel, navigation hazards to vessels, and ongoing ecological harm through what DFO terms "ghost fishing": gear that continues to trap and kill marine life after it leaves active use.

Derelict fishing net removed from the ocean floor. Photo: NOAA Photo Library / Wikimedia Commons (public domain).

Identification of Derelict Gear

Before any handling takes place, gear must be assessed to determine whether it is derelict or whether it belongs to an active operation. Key indicators of derelict status include:

• No visible buoy identification numbers or those that are illegible due to weathering
• Fouled buoy lines — lines tangled with kelp, barnacles, or other organisms consistent with extended submersion
• Gear entangled with fixed structures (dock pilings, anchor chains, rocky outcrops)
• Evidence of net mesh deterioration, including UV degradation of synthetic fibres
• No response to reporting through the relevant port authority or DFO regional office after a reasonable waiting period

In Canadian Pacific waters, DFO Pacific Region provides a lost gear reporting mechanism. Atlantic operations are covered through DFO regional offices. Gear found in harbor jurisdiction should be reported to the relevant port authority before removal is attempted.

A marine turtle entangled in ghost net. Derelict gear continues to trap marine life long after it leaves active fishing operations. Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Personal Protective Equipment Requirements

Recovery of derelict fishing gear from harbor environments involves multiple hazard types. The following PPE is appropriate for surface and near-surface recovery operations:

For Surface and Dock-Side Retrieval

• Cut-resistant gloves (minimum EN 388 level 3 cut resistance) — monofilament lines and old net mesh with degraded fibres present laceration risk
• Safety footwear with non-slip soles appropriate for wet dock surfaces
• High-visibility vest where operations are adjacent to vessel traffic
• Eye protection when using cutting tools

For Vessel-Based or Dive Retrieval

• Appropriate personal flotation device (Transport Canada Type I, II, or III as required by vessel class)
• Dive knife accessible on the body — not stored in a bag — for divers entering areas with net concentrations
• Full dive suit where entanglement risk is elevated (net density greater than one gear item per 10 square metres of bottom)
• Tether line for divers in low-visibility harbor conditions

Cutting and Untangling Procedures

The preferred approach for gear recovery is to avoid cutting net mesh where possible, to preserve the integrity of the gear for identification and potential return to its owner. In practice, gear that has been derelict for an extended period is typically too degraded for identification recovery, and cutting is necessary for safe removal.

Cutting Guidelines

• Use a dedicated hook knife or line cutter — do not use general-purpose folding knives, which are difficult to control in wet conditions
• Cut from the outside of entanglements inward; do not attempt to pull gear free while personnel or equipment remains entangled
• Where gear is wrapped around a propeller or through-hull fitting, disengage the vessel's engine before any cutting attempt and verify the drive is locked
• Document the location of cuts made in the gear for the audit record

Handling Trap Gear (Crab, Lobster, Prawn Traps)

Derelict trap gear requires specific handling procedures because traps may:

• Contain live or decomposing bycatch — gloves and eye protection are essential
• Be under tension from accumulated buoyancy in partially submerged conditions
• Be weighted with ballast that makes single-person lifting unsafe
• Contain sharp metal components (wire mesh edges, broken frames)

Trap gear recovered in Atlantic Canada lobster and crab fishery areas should be reported to the relevant DFO Gulf or Maritime region office before disposal. Trap gear bearing a valid licence number remains the property of the licence holder and should not be discarded without notification.

Disposal of Recovered Gear

Recovered derelict fishing gear cannot simply be placed in general waste disposal at most Canadian ports. The following handling applies:

Gear Type	Disposal Route	Notes
Synthetic net (nylon, polyester)	Port waste reception facility or recycling depot	Many ports have net recycling bins; contact port authority for location
Monofilament line	Dedicated monofilament recycling container	Do not place in general waste — landfill operators reject tangled filament
Wire or metal trap frames	Metal recycling	May require decontamination if antifouling paint is present
Rope (polypropylene)	Port waste reception or municipal solid waste	Cut into lengths under 50 cm before disposal to prevent equipment fouling
Foam or cork floats	Check with port authority — varies by municipality	Some foam types are not accepted at general recycling

Documentation After Recovery

Every derelict gear recovery should generate a brief field record including:

• Date, location (GPS or survey zone reference), and estimated quantity by weight or item count
• Gear type and condition assessment
• Any identification markings found (licence numbers, vessel names)
• Disposal route taken
• Reporting party (DFO, port authority) if notification was made

This record feeds into the litter audit data sheets described in the litter audit documentation and supports reporting requirements under harbor authority agreements.