An on-demand video of “Seafood Industry-led Efforts to Address the Deadliest Form of Marine Plastic Debris” is available free for SeafoodSource Premium members and for USD 350 (EUR 308) to non-members through the Complete Digital Ticket: Seafood Expo North America 2025.
Featuring Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI)/Ocean Conservancy Corporate Partnerships Manager Sara Pfeifer, Starkist Head of Global Sustainability Matt Hall, and Seafresh Group Director of Sustainability Dominique Gautier, the panel was advertised with the following description:
Marine plastic pollution often conjures the image of bags, straws, or other single-use packaging items floating aimlessly in the aquatic environment or sullying otherwise beautiful beaches, and in response, seafood brands are making earnest commitments around managing their plastic footprint.
However, with recent data revealing that 70 percent to 86 percent of floating microplastic debris in the ocean is comprised of lost, abandoned, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), or “ghost gear,” it is increasingly evident that ghost gear presents a tremendous opportunity for impact in the realm of plastics management.
Not only does fishing gear represent a relevant element of the broader marine plastics dilemma and a major point of discussion in the ongoing negotiations for the International Legally Binding Instrument to end Plastic Pollution, commonly known as the “Plastics Treaty,” it also may be diminishing the longevity of the seafood industry.
Lost fishing gear is the deadliest form of marine plastic pollution; lost gear- including from both wild capture fisheries as well as aquaculture operations can result in the depletion of up to 30 percent of harvestable fish stocks annually.
The Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) is the world’s premier cross-stakeholder alliance dedicated to the issue of ghost gear. In addition to uniting governments, multilaterals, research institutions, nonprofits, and the technology sector, the GGGI works collaboratively with the seafood industry to develop custom-tailored solutions to address ALDFG vulnerability in each company’s respective seafood supply chain.
In the last year, we’ve seen tremendous momentum from our industry member base, including a wave of commitments centered around preventing gear loss in those fisheries and farming operations from which their seafood is sourced.
The 2025 Seafood Expo North America, which took place 15 to 17 March in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., featured a comprehensive conference program of live panel events focusing on topics chosen to be of vital interest to the seafood industry.
