Ghost Gear Funding
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Overview
Led by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Ghost Gear Fund is a federal funding initiative that plays a vital role within the larger Ghost Gear Program. It supports Canada’s commitment to preventing and mitigating the risks of ghost fishing and encouraging the development of sustainable fishing practices, particularly as it applies to abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) domestically and abroad. This work is part of the Government of Canada's broader commitments to support national and international efforts to reduce plastics in our oceans and the use of plastics in government operations, and to reduce the occurrence and effects of ghost gear around the world.
To date, DFO supported 144 projects, for a total of $58.4 million between 2020-2025.
Purpose of funding
The Ghost Gear Program encourages the sustainable management of Canada's fisheries, Indigenous fisheries programs, aquaculture activities, and support commercial fishing harbours to take concrete actions to support ALDFG prevention, retrieval and responsible disposal. The Ghost Gear Program also supported fish harvesters to acquire new gear technologies to reduce the occurrence of gear loss.
Program pillars
Projects supported under four program pillars:
- Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) retrieval*;
- Responsible disposal;
- Acquisition and piloting of currently available innovative technologies; and
- International leadership.
*ALDFG retrieval programs were required to take place outside of active fishing seasons.
Contact
For additional information on the Ghost Gear Program or future funding opportunities, please e-mail DFO.GGProgram-ProgrammeEF.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
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