Ghost Gear Hunting: Unveiling the Ocean's Hidden Hazards
The waters off the coast of Maine hide a menacing secret. Beneath the waves, colossal underwater obstacles lurk, threatening the very foundation of the fishing industry. These are the "ghosts" of the sea, known as ghost gear. They are the abandoned fishing traps, nets, and equipment that silently wreak havoc on marine life and the environment.
Emma Weed, a dedicated program manager at the Kennebunk-based Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation (GOMLF), is on a mission to combat this underwater menace. With the invaluable assistance of local fishermen, she leads the Gear Grab initiative, a collaborative effort to retrieve and dispose of this ghost gear. The scale of the problem is staggering; a single gear ball, a massive collection of debris, can weigh up to 56,000 pounds, growing larger with each passing tide.
Weed explains, "It's like a sea monster, devouring everything in its path. Initially separate items, such as ropes and traps, intertwine over time due to tides and currents, eventually dragging active gear into its grasp."
The Boothbay Region has witnessed the discovery of a colossal gear ball weighing approximately 3,700 pounds. Globally, the impact is equally alarming. According to the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWFN), fishing waste constitutes at least 10% of marine litter. Each year, an estimated 5.7% of fishing nets, 8.6% of traps and pots, and a staggering 29% of fishing lines are lost, resulting in the ocean absorbing between 500,000 and 1 million tons of fishing gear annually. In the Gulf of Maine alone, GOMLF estimates that 175,000 lobster traps are lost each year.
These lost gears represent significant financial investments and missed fishing opportunities. Moreover, they pose a hazard by entangling ground-fishing equipment, obstructing navigation, and continuing to capture marine life, including unintended species. The synthetic materials used in these gears, such as lobster trap coatings, can break down and release microplastics, further polluting the water and disrupting marine food chains.
Devyn Campbell, a Boothbay Harbor fisherman, underscores the environmental impact, stating, "You feel pretty good getting that much plastic." He highlights the misconception among some that these materials simply disappear, emphasizing that they break down into microplastics, causing long-term harm.
Campbell has been actively involved in ghost gear removal for years, joining GOMLF in 2025. He collaborates with approximately 40 fishermen, collectively working to clean up the seafloor, coastlines, and even residential areas. The program operates from late fall to early spring, with workers retrieving derelict equipment and disposing of it in local landfills and recycling centers. Usable and identifiable gear is returned to its rightful owners whenever possible.
The Gear Grab program is funded by philanthropic organizations, private donors, and grants. GOMLF collaborates with the New England Gear team, a coalition of organizations spanning from Massachusetts to Maine. They have also partnered with NOAA, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR).
Since October, the program has successfully removed approximately 45 to 55 tons of material along the Maine coast. Campbell's daily efforts involve hauling around 30 to 40 traps, a task that brings a sense of fulfillment during the typically idle winter months.
Campbell's work involves using a grapple with steel prongs attached to a heavy chain, meticulously retrieving gear from the seafloor. His adventures have led to unusual discoveries, including a 600-pound anchor, giant lobsters, electrical cables, and numerous tires. Campbell and his crew have primarily cleaned up the tip of Spruce Point, with other fishermen's teams supporting efforts around Southport and the surrounding areas.
Even non-participating fishermen contribute to the cause. They provide valuable tips, sharing coordinates of potential gear locations. Weed emphasizes the importance of compensating these fishermen for their time and expertise, as they possess invaluable knowledge about the ocean's hazards.
Weed's personal connection to the project is rooted in her family's long history of Stonington-area fishing and waterfront work, spanning over 10 generations. She believes that by recognizing and supporting fishermen as ocean stewards, they can collectively contribute to a sustainable future for both the fishing community and the ocean they rely on.
"Together, we will lift each other up and demonstrate how fishermen can be a vital part of the solution," Weed asserts.
