There is no established current total for all pollution caused by fishing. The clearest global figure is narrower: a 2022 study estimated that about 1.82% of fishing gear is lost to the ocean each year (±0.20%). Lost gear can keep catching animals, entangle wildlife, damage habitat and create navigation hazards. That estimate does not measure vessel emissions, seabed disturbance or every other effect of fishing.
How much fishing gear is lost at sea each year?
Richardson and colleagues’ 2022 peer-reviewed study estimated an average annual global loss rate of 1.82% of fishing gear (±0.20%). The researchers interviewed 451 fishers in seven countries, then scaled reported loss rates using global fishing-effort data. It is a modeled estimate, not a direct count of every item lost worldwide. The authors also estimated the following annual losses by gear type:
| Gear type | Estimated share lost annually | Estimated amount lost annually |
|---|---|---|
| Gillnets | 0.81% | 2,963 km² |
| Purse seine nets | 1.51% | 75,049 km² |
| Trawl nets | 3.57% | 218 km² |
| Longline mainlines | 3.33% | 739,583 km |
| Pots and traps | 0.74% | More than 25 million |
These are the study’s estimates, not measurements of every fishery. The physical totals use different units—area, length and item count—so they cannot be added into one meaningful total. The study reports uncertainty around its estimates; the figures should not be read as exact inventories. Read Richardson et al. (2022).
How much of ocean litter comes from fishing gear?
A frequently repeated claim says abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear makes up around 10% of marine litter, or 640,000 tonnes. That figure comes from a 2009 FAO/UNEP report and is historical, not a current measurement of fishing’s share of ocean litter or a present-day annual total. The report said information was incomplete and did not support global estimates at the time. FAO now points to the newer gear-loss estimate above and says it is working with experts on a global survey to improve measurement. See the 2009 FAO/UNEP report and FAO’s responsible-fishing information.
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Why lost fishing gear is harmful
Lost or discarded nets, lines, pots and traps do not necessarily stop functioning when they leave a vessel. NOAA defines “ghost fishing” as what happens when derelict gear “continues to fish.” Animals can be caught, injured or killed; gear can also entangle wildlife, damage marine habitats and pose navigation hazards. The impacts depend on the gear and where it is lost. NOAA explains ghost fishing, and its derelict fishing gear page describes the broader problem.
What causes fishing gear to be lost?
Causes vary by fishery and location. The 2009 FAO/UNEP report identifies severe weather, operating conditions, conflicts between gear, illegal or unreported fishing, theft or vandalism, and the availability and cost of disposal facilities on shore as contributing factors. Because the causes differ, a single prevention measure will not suit every fishery. In the 2009 release, FAO Assistant Director-General for Fisheries and Aquaculture Ichiro Nomura warned that marine gear would continue to accumulate without effective action on marine debris; that was a statement made at the time, not a current forecast. Read the FAO release dated May 6, 2009.
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What can reduce fishing-gear pollution?
Approaches described by FAO/UNEP include preventing gear loss, marking gear and reporting losses, retrieving lost gear, improving port reception and disposal, and designing gear so that lost traps can become harmless—for example, by including escape components. Which measures are practical depends on the fishery and local conditions; their availability or effectiveness should not be assumed to be the same everywhere.
In the United States, NOAA’s Fishing for Energy information page reports that the program has collected more than 1,814,369.48 kilograms (4 million pounds) of derelict gear from 56 locations. NOAA’s page was last updated September 23, 2026, and the collection total was checked October 8, 2026. This is a program collection total, not an estimate of how much gear is in the ocean or how much fishing pollution occurs. NOAA’s page describes the program.
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Why there is no single total for fishing pollution
Gear loss is one measurable pollution pathway, but it is not a complete measure of fishing’s environmental footprint. Vessel fuel and emissions, seabed disturbance, discarded catch and other effects are separate categories. The sources cited here do not quantify all those pathways together, so they do not establish a single current total for pollution caused by fishing. Gear-loss figures should not be presented as though they include those other impacts.
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