Something is haunting our oceans... and it's trapping aquatic species and threatens fishers harvesting operations! In part 2 of our plastic ocean mini-series, we focus on ghost gear: old and damaged fishing lines, traps and aquaculture infrastructures that becomes loose in the ocean and continue fishing unattended.So, what's being done to address this global issue? in this episode, we find out by learning about community-led ghost gear initiatives. We will investigate where this gear is coming from, how it is being tracked, where some of the most problematic areas, how the gear can be retrieved, and finally, strategies for preventing ghost gear in the first place! We are joined by Matt Abbott, the Fundy Baykeeper at Conservation Council of New Brunswick, who will help us navigate this ghastly problem. He has experience working with both of our guests and will contribute to our conversations with Lillian and Melanie about their collaborative initiatives in New Brunswick. In this episode we heard from: • Lillian Mitchell from Fundy North Fishermans Association (FNFA) o Website: https://www.fundynorth.org o https://www.ghostgear.org/projects/2018/10/10/fundy-north-fishermens-association • Dr. Melanie Wiber from the University of New Brunswick (https://unbgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=1ecca66e562d44358c266546a693e1fb) • Matt Abott, the Fundy Baykeeper at Conservation Council of New Brunswick. o Conservation Council of New Brunswick- https://www.conservationcouncil.ca/marine-programs/ • Department of Fisheries and Oceans Ghost Gear Fund (https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/management-gestion/ghostgear-equipementfantome/program-programme/projects-projets-eng.html#wb-auto-4) • COJO diving (https://www.cojodiving.com/environmental-stewardship/) • Intervale Associates Inc partners with lobster harvesters to collect bait box liners o http://intervale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Living-Rivers-Newsletter-Vol.-3-2-Nov-2020-compressed.pdf o https://samstewardship.blogspot.com/2018/02/ • Starting your own ghost gear retrieval program? Here is the FNFA Manual: https://www.fundynorth.org/ghost-gear Marine Debris and Ghost Gear Products/Souvenirs/DIYs: • Nature’s Threads o https://www.natures-threads-nl.com • All For Knot Rope Weaving “Connect with the Sea” o https://allforknot.ca/collections/cast-away-designs • Recycled Rope ideas o https://trashmagination.com/rope/ In the news: • Companies who are trying to change the game o https://globalnews.ca/video/7753581/n-s-company-hoping-to-change-ghost-gear-scrapping-process • Reclaimed rope as a hobby: https://www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/lifestyles/the-whales-will-thank-her-nova-scotia-womans-reclaimed-rope-decor-weaves-a-creative-hobby-into-help-for-the-environment-400774/• Huntsman Marine Science Center Rope Recycling: https://globalnews.ca/news/6554014/marine-rope-recycling/• How much garbage are we talking about here? o https://globalnews.ca/news/6169685/garbage-strewn-bay-of-fundy-bottom/ o https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/ghost-gear-nova-scotia-seven-tons-of-waste-1.6123077 • Right Whale Entanglement o https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/north-atlantic-right-whales-miscou-entangled-1.6103068

We love to hear your feedback. Connect with the hosts:Sondra Eger (www.twitter.com/@soneger)Jackie Bauman (ruralresilience.ca/researchers/mun…/jackie-bauman/)If you have a story to share with us or questions about how we make the podcast, send us an email at [email protected].

Coastal Routes Radio is led by:Philip Loring www.twitter.com/@ConserveChangeHannah Harrison www.twitter.com/@fishpeopleplaceFollow the Coastal Routes Project www.twitter.com/@Coastal_RoutesListen to Volume 1 of Coastal Routes Radio soundcloud.com/conservechange/sets/social-fishtancing