Ottawa, Ontario – The oceans are integral to our way of life, providing culture, recreation, and economic opportunities from coast to coast. However, ghost gear – abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear – poses a significant threat to marine habitats and endangered species like the North Atlantic right whale. To safeguard the health of our waters and ensure the sustainability of Canada's multi-billion dollar fishing industry, it is crucial to collaborate with harvesters and other partners to prevent fishing gear loss.
In celebration of World Oceans Day tomorrow, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced that Canada will host the 2nd International Fishing Gear Innovation Summit in February 2025. This two-day event will convene harvesters, technical experts, government representatives, and organizations from around the globe to share best practices and explore innovative solutions to prevent fishing gear loss and minimize whale interactions.
The Government of Canada takes pride in its leadership against ghost gear through initiatives like the Ghost Gear Fund. Maintaining this momentum and defining future steps is more important than ever. To this end, Minister Lebouthillier also announced upcoming consultations involving partners, Indigenous communities, and other experts to enhance this collaboration and support future projects.
The 2025 International Gear Innovation Summit will provide a unique platform for global experts and harvesters to discuss Canada’s achievements in preventing marine mammal entanglements and promoting sustainable fishing gear management practices.
Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada (June 7, 2024). https://www.canada.ca/en/fisheries-oceans/news/2024/06/canada-to-host-the-2nd-international-fishing-gear-innovation-summit-in-2025.html
