Lost fishing nets, known as ghost nets, have become a critical challenge to marine ecosystems and sustainable fisheries worldwide. These nets drift in the ocean, unintentionally trapping marine life, destroying biodiversity, and breaking down into microplastics that threaten marine organisms and human health. Multiple challenges exist throughout the lifecycle of fishing nets—from production, use, disposal, to recycling—making it difficult to effectively address the ghost net problem.
The goal of this system is to establish a complete and circular fishing net management system that maximizes net durability and recycling rates, minimizes loss and discard, and promotes ocean cleanup through policy incentives and technological innovation, ultimately restoring marine ecosystems and ensuring sustainable fisheries.
Omplexity, in collaboration with government agencies and NGOs, facilitated stakeholder workshops to co-create a comprehensive systems map illustrating the fishing net lifecycle—from production, distribution, use, loss, disposal, to recycling. The map includes key variables such as production volume, usage status, loss rates, recycling facility capacity, and policy incentives. It reveals multiple causal relationships and the interplay of reinforcing and balancing feedback loops.
Analysis shows that net durability and repair techniques are critical factors influencing loss rates; fishermen’s education and training help reduce disposal behaviors; and the convenience of recycling facilities, along with policy incentives, are major drivers in increasing recycling rates.
To address ghost nets and optimize the fishing net lifecycle, key targeted interventions include:
Popularization of Clear Labeling for Fishing NetsPromote clear identification and traceability of fishing nets to reduce loss and disposal.
Government Recycling Policy IncentivesDevelop and enforce policies that incentivize recycling and discourage improper disposal.
Through these collaborative and systemic interventions, the fishing net management system aims to shift from a harmful cycle toward sustainable practice—effectively protecting marine biodiversity and supporting the stability and development of fishing communities.
