The International Conference on Ghost Gear 2023

We will be located at the shores of Raet National Park where researchers, managers, divers and local enthusiasts has worked to battle ghost fishing for several years.

Together, we have worked to both remove ghost gear and to gain a better understanding of the extent of the problem and the effect from ghost fishing on local populations of fish and invertebrates.

However, we are all aware that efforts to remove ghost gear must be combined with resolutions to reduce the supply of lost gear and gear modifications that reduce the loss or the danger to marine life after loss.

We wish to bring together managers, researchers, specialists in ghost gear removal and gear producers to find solutions for how to reduce the effects of ghost gear on marine populations and ecosystems. 

We will also have spaces for trade booths where companies can display solutions for gear removal and new gear technology. 

Registration is open here (1500 NOK). Deadline: Monday 23rd october.

Company registration by email to arrangementshjelpen@hi.no.
Company registrations includes one trade booth, two registrations and two dinner tickets (12,500 NOK incl. VAT).

Rooms at the conference hotel can be booked here 

Program

Monday November 6
16:00    Registration opens at Arendal Cultural House
18:00    Ice breaker at Arendal old townhall

Tuesday November 7
09:00    Morning coffee and registration    
09:30    Joel Baziuk, GGGI    Welcome
    Theme: Science and Management
10:00    Keynote talk: Kelsey Richardson, UTAS/CSIRO/FAO    
Linking science to management solutions for Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) 
10:45    Morning tea    
11:00    Alf Ring Kleiven, Havforskningsinstituttet    
Battling ghost fishing in Norwegian national parks
11:15    Kory Angstadt, Virginia Institute of Marine Science    
USA Nationwide Fishing Trap, Removal, Assessment, and Prevention Program (TRAP)
11:30    Bård Aarbakke, Directorate of Fisheries    
Management, regulation and reporting
11:45    Junko Toyoshima, Ocean Policy Research Institute     
Identification of the origins of derelict fishing gear in Iriomote Island, Okinawa, Japan
12:00    Lunch    
13:00    Paritosh Deshpande, NTNU    
Navigating the Depths of ALDFG Management: Assessment of knowledge gaps for Guided Action in Global Waters
13:15    Alwyn Ponteen, Fisheries and Ocean Governance Adviser    
Applying ALDFG Predictive Modelling as an Environmental Tool to Evaluate Ocean Sustainability, Protection, Growth and Well-being
13:30    Isara Chanrachkij, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center    
Trial on the ALDFG Data Collection in Thailand - SEAFDEC lesson learnt from the Collaboration with FAO and Future Plan
13:45    Marina Petrovic, Fisheries and Oceans Canada    
Canada’s Approach to Ghost Gear Reduction – Programs, Policy and Connecting Data
14:00    Discussion: Science and Management    
        Theme: Technology for gear removal
14:20    Afternoon tea    
14:50    Keynote: Tord Aslaksen, Green-bay AS    
Removal of ghost gear using ROV's, towed cameras and AI gear detection
15:35    Per-Olof Samuelsson    
Ghost gear retrieval methods along the Swedish west coast
15:50    Aleksander Bøe Sandøy, OceanFront    
OceanFront creates a cleaner sea by using technology and innovative solutions 
16:05    Discussion: Technology for gear removal    
16:25    Poster session and boat visits    
19:00    Conference dinner at Arendal Culture house    

Wednesday November 8

09:00    Morning coffee    
        Theme: Awareness and prevention of gear loss
09:30    Keynote: Shaun McLennan, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)    
Driving best practice in ghost gear management – an MSC perspective
10:15    Joan Fabres, SALT    
Fishing for Litter
10:30    Tone Berg, Ocean Space Acoustics AS    
PingMe - Tracking Your Gear
10:45    Morning tea    
11:00    Karl Klungland, Søgne Dykkerklubb    
Fight against ghost fishing and litter locally (Volunteer work)
11:15    Gabrielle Dederer    
TBA
11:30    Discussion: Awareness and prevention of gear loss    
12:00    Lunch    
        Theme: Gear technology and Recycling
13:00    Keynote: Haraldur Arnar Einarson, HAFRO/FAO    
Fishing Gear Technology and Recycling - Sustainable Practices for the Future
13:45    Niko Hänninen, CIRCNETS    
Blue Circular Nets – promoting collection and recycling of EOL fishing gear in the European North
14:00    Karl Christian, SINTEF    
Recycled and biodegradable plastics for marine applications: challenges and solutions
14:15    Stefanie Werner, Environmental Agency of Germany     
Ending the use of Dolly Ropes in European trawl fisheries
14:30    Afternoon tea    
14:45    SmartOcean    
TBA
15:00    Neil Anders, Havforskningsinstituttet    
The specification of biodegradable twine to limit ghost fishing in lost pots.
15:15    Helge Trettø Olsen, Resqunit AS    
Preventive gear technology
15:30    Discussion: Gear technology and Recycling    
16:00    End    
19:00    Open public lecture at Arendal Cultural House    

The Institute of Marine Research and The Directorate of Fisheries are co-hosting the conference. 

Supported by: 

Partners: