Abandoned, Lost and Discarded Fishing Gear from the Fishing Sector of Kerala, India

Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is rapidly becoming a major global environmental problem. In the present study, a survey of 390 fishermen operating ten different types of fishing gear was conducted, to get a quantitative estimate of ALDFG generated in the fishing intense coastal state of India (Kerala). On average, the total gear loss from 10 selected marine fishing gears operated in Kerala was estimated to be 167.5 ± 251.7 kg.vessel−1 year−1. Fishing crews reported that each year, 11.6% of the total gear used is lost, 7.5% is abandoned, and 2.3% is discarded. There was significant variation in the ALDFG incurred regarding different types of fishing gears. Motorized large mesh ring seine recorded the highest gear loss (35.5%), followed by motorized small mesh ring seine (29.7%), mini trawl (27.4%), trammel net (24.4%), motorized gillnet (18.75%), non-motorized gillnet (16.3%), small trawl (14.6%), large trawl (12.07%), medium trawl (11.25%) and shore seine (0.32%). The ALDFG estimates and associated trends worked out in the current study can assist filling in data gaps about fishing gear loss and aid in the design of strategies to manage marine debris from the fishing industry.