What We Heard Report: Gear Innovation Summit

February 25 and 26, 2025

Introduction

The Second International Fishing Gear Innovation Summit (the Summit) was held in Moncton, New Brunswick on February 25 and 26, 2025, following on the success of the first Summit held in February 2020 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The two-day event brought together global experts to discuss innovative tools and practices to address lost fishing gear, and to reduce whale entanglements. The Summit was organized and hosted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) Fisheries Resource Management Directorate (Whalesafe Gear and Ghost Gear Programs).

Over 220 people representing nine countries attended the Summit in-person to participate in presentations, panel discussions, a poster hall, networking activities and exhibit booths. Participants included representatives of the Canadian fishing industry, Canadian gear manufacturers, U.S. federal and state regulators, U.S. harvesters, experts and gear manufacturers, experts from Norway, Iceland, Chile, Mexico, Scotland, England, representatives of the Marine Stewardship Council, the Food and Agricultural Organization, the Global Ghost Gear initiative, Canadian, U.S. and international NGOs, and Indigenous groups.

With contributions from a wide range of experts including harvesters, fishing gear manufacturers, innovators, disposal and recycling, gear retrieval companies, and academic researchers, the event generated engaging panel discussions and thoughtful dialogue, encouraging active participation from attendees. In addition, the Summit featured a dynamic Trade Show of innovative fishing gear technologies and ghost gear and marine mammal response programs, giving participants the chance to view product or program demonstrations, interact with developers, manufacturers and program specialists, and expand their professional networks.

About this report

This What We Heard report provides an overview of the Summit highlights for both those who attended and those who were not able to attend this in person event. DFO will use this report and information shared during Summit presentations, panels, and networking discussions, to inform and shape future fishery management strategies and practices.

The Summit organizers thank everyone who attended and participated actively in the event. We wish to express our appreciation to those who dedicated your time and expertise to present your work through panels and the Trade Show. The success of the event is attributed to your interest and active engagement and participation.

What we heard about whalesafe gear

Speakers from the Maine Department of Marine Resources, Le Regroupement des pêcheurs professionnels du sud de la Gaspésie, Fundy North Fishermen’s Association, and Memorial University of Newfoundland opened the summit by presenting their real-world experiences using low breaking- strength gear in lobster and snow crab fisheries. Their results, and the discussion that followed, supported the importance of a fishery-by-fishery approach to implementing low breaking-strength gear. Some fisheries are ready to adopt variations of low breaking-strength gear, while in other fisheries, more trials are needed to understand the appropriate gear devices and configurations to suit conditions of the fishery.

In the first of three sessions exploring challenges and needs related to the use of “ropeless” or on-demand fishing gear, presenters from the Acadian Crabbers Association, the CanFish Gear Lending Program, the U.S. Northeast Fisheries Science Centre, and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation discussed their work on the operational realities of on-demand fishing gear technology in snow crab and lobster fisheries. The Summit also learned about research in a Scottish lobster fishery focusing on reducing whale entanglement risk in the groundline between traps. This work, presented by a representative of Whale and Dolphin Conservation, highlighted the importance of involving harvesters in such research. As some fisheries in Canada and elsewhere ‘trawl up’ their gear to reduce the amount of vertical line in the water, they use more groundline between traps, hence the importance of understanding how to minimize entanglement risk in groundlines.

Zooming out for a broad view of on-demand gear in commercial fisheries, the session on interoperability explored the challenge of providing all relevant ocean users with the locations of submerged on-demand fishing gear, to prevent gear conflict. In fisheries with high gear density, and in areas with multiple ocean users (e.g. mobile fishing fleets, ferries), interoperability is essential. Presenters from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, CORBO Engineering Inc., MITRE Corporation, and Sustainable Seas Inc. opened the discussion about proposed models for the transmission, storage, and distribution of gear location data. At a minimum, ocean users need access to data that replicates the information provided by traditional surface buoys: that gear is present in a specific location. On-demand gear systems can also go beyond such traditional information, for example by location data for gear that has moved. Potential approaches range from localized transmission directly to nearby vessels, to more complex cloud-based options with open acoustic standards that allow different manufacturers to develop compatible systems.  

Turning from the cloud to the data points, the final session of Day one zoomed in on the data that needs to be available to fishers, enforcement agencies, and other ocean users, to support interoperability of on-demand gear. Presenters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Gear Research Team, the Maine Department of Marine Resources, the Canadian Wildlife Federation, and the non-profit organization EarthRanger discussed data security, privacy and governance needs to support wider adoption of on-demand gear. The discussion reflected challenging legal and logistical issues related to data management and governance systems. The identification of technical data standards will be vital to ensure data security and confidentiality, while supporting data sharing with various ocean users as needed. Harvesters should be able to opt out of providing anything more than critical functional data. The panelists participate in transboundary (Canada-U.S.) working groups that are in place to address on-demand gear issues including data governance.

Discussions following each panel on Day one highlighted important issues, including some that will require future work and attention from DFO.

• Trials of both low breaking-strength gear innovations and on-demand gear have identified successful approaches in lobster and crab fisheries in Canada and the U.S. More trials are needed in additional fixed gear fisheries, including on Canada’s west coast. Yet in some areas, social pressures to not participate in gear trials can hamper progress.
• Various participants highlighted the importance of government leadership to help advance whalesafe gear innovation, including by ensuring that enforcement officers have the tools and capacity to work with low breaking-strength gear and on-demand gear.
• More testing and training for industry and for government agencies is needed.
• Harvesters and gear manufacturers need flexible options for interoperable on-demand gear systems, including access to low-cost gear location marking systems, and integration with existing chart plotter technology. Ideally multiple options will become available, to suit varied levels of gear conflict in different fisheries.
• For industry to proceed with developing and scaling up interoperable gear systems, governments need to identify technical standards. NOAA anticipates publishing a technical report that will help refine interoperability data standards.
• Canadian gear manufacturers called on Canada to maintain momentum on whalesafe gear technical solutions, to support new economic opportunities in this emerging industry where product demand and competition can be expected to grow.   Cloud-based systems to store data  about on-demand gear need to provide security and confidentiality for harvesters’ data.

What we heard about ghost gear

The summit offered an opportunity to learn about efforts to address abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear, otherwise known as ghost gear.

International ghost gear colleagues presented on the importance of addressing ghost gear as a global issue and how the impact and methods to address it vary. Canada was framed as the world leader in proactively taking actions through initiatives such as mandatory lost gear reporting for commercial fish harvesters and DFO’s Ghost Gear Fund. Initiatives to address fishing gear as plastic waste are already on the international stage at the United Nations forums including the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC) as well as with Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMO). Continued collaboration between nations and support of these initiatives is crucial to advancing measures to prevent fishing gear from becoming ghost gear and to support sustainable seafood harvesting.

In addition to the work done by Canada and other participants at international forums, we also heard from countries and regions about their programs to address ghost gear. In Nigeria, Stand Out For Environmental Restoration has been working to improve livelihoods and create economic opportunities for fishing communities through craft workshops with end-of-life fishing gear. In California, the state’s Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Program is working in close collaboration with commercial fishers to remove ghost gear from the California coast. The Global Ghost Gear Initiative is working in Mexico to reduce the threat of entanglement to the endangered vaquita from ghost gear. Bureo and the NetPlus recycling program are turning recycled fishing nets into traceable recycled materials.

At the first Summit in 2020, there were many new innovations and technologies presented towards monitoring fishing gear and, detecting and retrieving ghost gear. In 2025, we revisited innovative solutions for preventing, detecting and retrieving ghost gear. Blue Ocean Gear, and My Gear Tag presented their technologies for satellite buoys and tags. The Emerald Sea Protection Society and CSR GeoSurveys shared their experiences using side scan sonar and remotely operated vehicles (ROV) for detection of ghost gear for retrieval and CERMIM showed how they use a ROV to conduct ghost gear retrievals.

A circular economy is an economic model designed to minimize waste and make the most of available resources while considering the full lifecycle of a product such as fishing gear. We heard from a Canadian organization, Ocean Legacy Foundation, on their recycling efforts that include processing of ocean plastics. The European Union has established a new European Standard EN17988 on the circular design of fishing gear and aquaculture equipment which was presented while also discussing Extended Producer Responsibility schemes being explored and implemented in parts of Europe. Iceland shared their leadership in addressing ghost gear with the implementation of a gear return program.

Reporting of lost fishing gear is acknowledged as an important component to ghost gear management. The information collected from lost gear reporting can inform retrieval activities and the development of best management practices. Canada presented on its Fishing Gear Reporting System which was developed in 2020 to support the collection of mandatory lost gear reporting from commercial fish harvesters. The Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) shared about their data portal and Costa Rica and Norway presented on their national reporting requirements. Canada maintains their own database and provides anonymized, aggregated data to the GGGI portal once a year in accordance with Canada’s privacy laws. All three countries approach lost gear reporting and management in unique ways but with the same end goal of addressing the issue by monitoring loss.

We heard directly from harvesters from Petty Harbour Fisherman’s Co-operative Society, Fundy North Fisherman’s Association, Coldwater Lobster Association and l’Association des Crabiers Acadiens on why addressing ghost gear is important to them and their fisheries. They spoke about the real-life application and use of innovative tools and the impact they are having on the water.

Some questions and discussions were heard and will require future work and attention from DFO which include:

• Partners and stakeholders continued to express the importance of tackling outstanding ghost gear in the water and called for more ghost gear funding.
• There were significant discussions throughout the Summit regarding difficulties with end-of-life disposal and recycling capacity from both harvesters and industry experts. Addressing ghost gear needs to be considered globally but also through the entire lifecycle.
• Participants mentioned that the Aquaculture sector is a source of marine debris and asked DFO to provide information on current reporting requirements and what components from aquaculture operations are being found/reported as ghost fishing gear.
• Reporting of commercial fishing gear can assist with recently lost fishing gear but there is a lot of historical or legacy gear that still needs to be retrieved and disposed of. Additionally, more effort is required to dispose of ghost gear that has been in the water a long time as it is often heavily biofouled and requires cleaning and sorting.
• Illegal fishing activity is a known and growing concern that is contributing to ghost gear and requires consideration.  
• The timing of when to report gear lost was discussed by harvesters. The licence holder and fishing vessel operator must report any of their lost fishing gear to DFO within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. If they feel they will recover their gear within a reasonable time frame, more flexibility is suggested to allow for this.
• Some fish harvesters discussed that end of season clean ups should be explored as a mechanism to retrieve lost gear. Clean ups can’t just happen once because gear will always be lost and there is a lot of legacy equipment in the ocean. Funding will continue to be a problem to support these efforts, and it’s recommended the government provide the funding.
• Harvesters reflect that the industry is changing with the younger generations embracing technology and increased awareness about the impact that lost or abandoned gear has on the ocean. Attitudes are shifting.
• There were discussions on gear marking and lost gear reporting requirements for recreational fisheries which currently do not have mandatory requirements.
• Education and awareness of ghost gear issues is needed.

What we heard about the Summit

Many, from industry to international partners, made a point of highlighting the success of the meeting, reiterating that engagement directly with harvesters and experts on solutions is critical, not only for the protection of the marine environment and species, but to also maintain sustainable seafood market access/success.

Networking opportunities during the Summit led to discussions on market issues, considering how to prepare for issues like tariffs, and market alternative, noting the right whale issue is front and centre for lobster and crab fisheries.

Overall, 96% of Summit attendees that completed the post-Summit survey said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the Summit and 94% likely to attend future Gear Innovation Summits. Attendees were pleased with the venue but noted that Moncton was difficult to get to and recommended future conferences are held in a larger city for those within and outside of Canada. For Canadian attendees, the location of the meeting on Canada’s east coast also resulted in more participation and representation from the east coast as travel time and cost was high to travel from the west coast of Canada.

Presenters, schedule, interpretation services and networking opportunities received overwhelming positive feedback. Suggested improvements included requests for more time for questions and discussions, particularly on ghost gear. Additionally, participants were hoping to see broadening of topics (to include discussions on marine debris, derelict vessels, and legacy gear) and larger representation and involvement from additional sectors including Indigenous groups, aquaculture, recreational fisheries, and the west coast of Canada.  

We appreciate the feedback as approximately 22% of attendees responded to the survey.

Graphic facilitation

We were pleased to have Camille Perron-Cormier, an illustrator based in Moncton, New Brunswick, attend the Summit and produce graphic representations of the event in both English and French.