ABNJ fishing gear loss surveys in IOTC fisheries - summary proposal

The aim of this survey is providing scientific, evidence-based and defensible global estimates of the amount of abandoned, lost or otherwise discard fishing gear (ALDFG), temporal and spatial distribution and trends of gear loss across fisheries, geographies and gear types. Data will be collected through surveys of fishers, and/or representatives with standardized survey forms and methodology. Data collected will be inputted and stored in a database for further analysis and synthesis of global estimates of gear loss, as well as for mapping the distribution of gear
loss and estimates of temporal and spatial trends. The development and planning of this global survey has been guided by recommendations provided by GESAMP WG43 on Sea-Based Sources of Marine Litter (also see COFI/2020/SBD.8 2 ) jointly led by FAO and IMO, and co-sponsored by UNEP.