Ghost Fishing Threatens Endangered River Dolphins, Critically Endangered Turtles, Otters
Published:26 Nov.2020 Source:University of Exeter
The study says entanglement in fishing gear could harm species including the critically endangered three-striped roofed turtle and the endangered Ganges river dolphin. Surveys along the length of the river, from the mouth in Bangladesh to the Himalayas in India, show levels of waste fishing gear are highest near to the sea.
Fishing nets -- all made of plastic -- were the most common type of gear found. Interviews with local fishers revealed high rates of fishing equipment being discarded in the river -- driven by short gear lifespans and lack of appropriate disposal systems.