Ghost Gear Fund Projects 2022-2024 – Hurricane Fiona Response
Hurricane Fiona, which hit parts of Eastern Canada in September 2022, has created substantial fishing gear-related debris, including heavy damage to harbour storage facilities. Several fisheries were active during the hurricane and have reported a significant loss of set gear that could not be removed before the storm. Existing ghost gear can also shift and become resuspended from the storm's movement.
- In fall 2022, $1.5M in emergency funding was allocated towards immediate cleanup and recovery efforts of the hardest hit areas through 11 projects. Those projects are complete and retrieved 4,553 units of gear (or 172 tonnes) and 172 km of rope in affected areas.
- DFO provided over $28.4M through the Ghost Gear Fund to support 43 projects targeted to reduce the impacts of Hurricane Fiona in 2023-2024.
2022-2023 Emergency funding project descriptions
| Name | Area of work | Description | Total funding for 2022-2023 | Pillars of activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation (Coastal Action) | Nova Scotia | This project expanded the organization's previous work in scope and effort by collaborating with partners to retrieve abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) from at-sea and shoreline environments across Nova Scotia. This project is complete. | $ 61,720.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Clean Harbours Initiative & Ghost Net Removal | St. Croix Bay, NL | Clean Harbours Initiative, with support from International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) Canada, removed and responsibly disposed of ghost gear from the coastline of St. Croix Bay, near Long Harbour, Newfoundland. St. Croix Bay is a collector bay for marine debris, and in 2021 significant concentrations of ghost gear and fishing-related marine plastic debris were identified in this area. This project is complete. | $ 185,500.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| CSR GeoSurveys Ltd. | LFA 29, 31A, 31B and CFA 24 | The goal of the project was to locate and recover lost lobster fishing equipment in the Maritimes Region (LFA 29, 31A, 31B, and CFA 24 ) impacted by Hurricane Fiona. This project is complete. | $ 350,000.00 | Retrieval Technology |
| Fish, Food, and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-UNIFOR) | Margaree to Burnt Islands, and Rose Blanche to La Poile, NL | The Fish, Food, and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) Ghost Gear Retrieval Project focused on areas affected by Hurricane Fiona, using a combination of underwater camera and grapnel for retrieval. This project is complete. | $ 66,743.77 | Retrieval Technology |
| Gros Morne Healthy Oceans Inc. | Southwestern Newfoundland | Atlantic Healthy Oceans Initiative (AHOI) and its partner, Tour Gros Morne (TGM) collected, audited and mapped ghost gear in the coastal and inshore fishing areas of southwestern Newfoundland, hit by Hurricane Fiona. Salvageable gear was returned to fishers. AHOI worked with municipalities, artisans and businesses to upcycle, recycle or reuse as much of the remaining material as possible. AHOI mapped and researched collected gear and identified ways that coastal communities and fish harvesters can prevent lost gear in future events. The project is complete. | $ 75,000.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Homarus Inc. | LFA 25 | This project involved detecting and identifying ghost gear with no bottom seafloor disturbance in Lobster Fishing Area 25 (LFA 25) by using sonar, subsea positioning, and underwater visuals. LFA 25 was highly impacted by Hurricane Fiona. This project is complete. | $ 80,660.50 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Maritime Fishermen's Union | LFA 26 | This project worked to assess as well as reduce the impacts of ghost gear in Nova Scotia, in Lobster Fishing Area 26. The project objective was to retrieve and collect gear in an area highly impacted by Hurricane Fiona. This project is complete. | $ 80,459.00 | Retrieval Technology |
| Merinov | Magdalen Islands, QC and Nova Scotia | The goal of the project was to search for and recover lost aquaculture gear or components in two selected areas, in the Magdalen Islands and Nova Scotia. Unidentified or end-of-life gear was reused in various projects in collaboration with the Fishing Gear Coalition of Atlantic Canada (FGCAC). This project is complete. *Merinov was funded up to $350,000.00 to carry out work in two locations: Magdalen Islands and Nova Scotia. |
$ 350,000.00 | Disposal |
| Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Association Ltd. | Gulf of St. Lawrence, PE | PEIFA conducted a project focusing on the retrieval of ghost gear in Lobster Fishing Area 25 that was lost during Hurricane Fiona. This project is complete. | $ 36,561.60 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Richmond County Inshore Fishermen's Association | St. Peter's Bay, NS | This project was to detect and retrieve ghost gear in St. Peter's Bay, NS. Gear was reused or recycled. This project is complete. | $ 38,300.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Titan Maritime Ltd. | LFA 25 | This project focused on retrieval of ghost gear in Lobster Fishing Area 25 using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) in areas of high concentration of gear that was lost during Hurricane Fiona in September 2022. This project is complete. | $ 175,000.00 | Retrieval Technology |
2023-2024 Project descriptions
| Name | Area of work | Description | Total funding for 2023-2024 | Pillars of activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Association des Pêcheurs Professionnels Crabiers Acadiens, Inc. (APPCA) | CFA 12 | This project retrieved ghost gear in Crab Fishing Area 12, which was directly hit by Hurricane Fiona. APPCA used innovative technologies, responsibly disposing of retrieved lost gear while reducing the risks of ghost gear on the marine ecosystem such as their interactions with the North Atlantic right whales. This project is complete. | $410,000.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Association of Inshore Fishermen of Magdalen Islands | Magdalen Islands, QC | This project retrieved abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear. Local participants used both their knowledge of the field and firsthand information to map out the fishing areas. Retrieved gear was returned to the owner, if tagged and reusable, or redistributed to other fishermen to reuse, if untagged but in useable condition, or discarded of properly. This project is complete. | $298,383.42 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Bear River First Nation | Annapolis Basin, NS | This project retrieved lost gear in the Annapolis Basin, with fish harvesters and harbor authorities leveraging local knowledge that identified gear hotspots. A side scan sonar was used to search the Basin and locations were marked and retrieved with a dive team. As stewards of its territorial lands and waters, Bear River First Nation's ultimate goal was to ensure the environmental sustainability of the region for the benefit of all future generations. This project is complete. | $276,141.46 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation (Coastal Action) | Gulf of St. Lawrence, NB, Northern NS, Southwest NS, and shoreline cleanups in NS, PEI, and NL. | Coastal Action completed at-sea retrieval efforts in Prince Edward Island, Southwest Newfoundland, Cape Breton, and Lobster Bay in Nova Scotia. Shoreline cleanups were conducted in areas with high concentrations of ghost gear. This was accomplished through partnerships with the fishing industry, other environmental groups, and community engagement. Coastal Action also strived to promote responsible end-of-life gear opportunities and expand recycling options for rope and other gear in Atlantic Canada. This project is complete. | $775,000.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation | Southwest coast of Newfoundland - Rose Blanche-Harbour le Cou to Burgeo. North of the SW coast in Gros Morne- Trout River, Wild Cove in Norris Point, Rocky Harbour, Green Point, and Cow Head |
The Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation partnered with the Atlantic Healthy Oceans Initiative, Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University, Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, Burgeo Harbour Authority, and a team of local harvesters. This project targeted fishing gear from traditional offshore fishing grounds and corresponding inlets and shorelines and involved leading-edge fishing gear recycling companies. Through the use of innovative imagery technology, fishing gear was identified on the seabed and appropriately mapped for retrieval and future reference data. This project is complete. | $1,009,725.21 | Retrieval Technology |
| Cape Breton Fish Harvesters Association | Cape Breton, NS | The Cape Breton Fish Harvesters Association (CBFHA) focused on the removal of ghost gear in Lobster Fishing Area 27, specifically in areas of high concern due to the destruction of Hurricane Fiona. After the hurricane, CBFHA members contacted the association with reports of the destruction of their wharves and boats, along with their fishing gear being lost. CBFHA worked alongside fish harvesters to combat the issue of ghost gear from the destruction of the hurricane, as well as gear left behind from the 2023 fishing season. This project is complete. | $121,620.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Cape Breton Fish Harvesters Association | LFA 27 | The Cape Breton Fish Harvesters Association partnered with Blue Ocean Gear and implemented Smart Buoy tracking technology across lobster, crab, and groundfish fisheries. This technology prevented gear loss by enabling fish harvesters to monitor their gear location and movement continuously. By ensuring gear retrieval after fishing and tracking losses reduces the chance of ghost gear. Real-time monitoring allowed for efficient haul times and reduced fuel consumption during searches for displaced gear. This collaborative effort enhanced fishing efficiency, promoted sustainable practices, reduced the chance of ghost gear, and fostered better resource management in Cape Breton's fisheries. This project is complete. | $196,672.00 | Technology |
| Centre de recherche sur les milieux insulaires et maritimes (CERMIM) | CFA 12, 12 F, 19 Baie de Plaisance aux Îles-de-la-Madeleine |
The CERMIM team and its partners carried out the LOREVA 2023 project. This was the third edition of the initiative to locate, recover and reclaim lost crab traps off the Magdalen Islands, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, following the passage of Hurricane Fiona. The team recovered ghost gear using a technique developed with a remote-controlled underwater robot. This project is complete. | $1,863,012.48 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Coastal Restoration Society | Atlantic Canada | In collaboration with First Nations and commercial fishing industry partners, Coastal Restoration Society co-developed this project to support shared priorities around the retrieval and responsible disposal of ghost gear from Indigenous territorial waters in Atlantic Canada. This project provided opportunities for local partners and Indigenous communities in ghost gear surveying and retrieval, environmental monitoring, remotely operated vessels, and side-scan sonar operations. This project is complete. | $5,500,000.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Comité ZIP Côte-Nord du Golfe | Mingan et Sept-Îles, Québec | This project identified and recovered lost fishing gear in the coastal waters of Sept-Îles and Mingan, using side scan sonar and remotely operated vessel technology. Additionally, this project improved the recovery, dismantling and circular economy capacities for ghost gear. This project is complete. | $485,000.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Comité ZIP des Îles-de-la-Madeleine | LFA 22, CFA 12 and Magdalen Islands Lagoon Marine Sanctuary | This project located ghost gear with a geolocation underwater camera and retrieved the gear from areas of high ecological value within LFA 22 in the Magdalen Islands. Additionally, this project located ghost gear using side-scan sonar technology in the area's lagoons and bays. Gear was retrieved using certified divers. With the participation of local fishers and aquaculture operators, areas associated with a high rate of gear loss were identified in order to focus recovery efforts. Recovered gear was returned to their respective owners or dismantled ensuring their various components are recycled or repurposed through the local chains of waste management. This project is complete. | $325,000.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Coopérative des Capitaines-Propriétaires de la Gaspésie ACPG | CFA 12, 12A, 12B, and 16 | This project contributed to the recovery of ghost gear in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, specifically in commercial snow crab fishing areas hit by Hurricane Fiona. The Coopérative des Capitaines-Propriétaires de la Gaspésie (ACPG) has been conducting ghost gear recovery campaigns since the summer of 2020. This project is complete. | $1,100,000.00 | Retrieval Technology |
| CSR GeoSurveys Ltd. (CSR) | LFA 31A, 31B, 32, 33 and 34 | This project located and recovered ghost gear in the parts of the Maritimes (LFA 31, 32, 33, 34) impacted by Hurricane Fiona. CSR targeted lost lobster fishing equipment and lost gill nets while operating from ports in Nova Scotia. This project used geophysical survey techniques locating ghost gear in the marine environment, as well as conducted terrestrial clean-ups in areas where gear accumulated on shorelines. Any gear not returned to owners were recycled through partnerships with Sustane Technologies Inc., FGCAC, and local metal recyclers. This project is complete. | $1,257,666.00 | Retrieval Technology |
| CSR GeoSurveys Ltd. (CSR) | CFA 12, 12D, 12E and 12F | This project located and recovered lost crab fishing equipment in parts of the Gulf (CFA 12) impacted by Hurricane Fiona. CSR utilized geophysical survey techniques to locate ghost gear. Retrieved gear was brought to shore and transferred to DFO for return to owners. Any unusable gear was recycled with minimal material going to landfills. CSR also deployed whale monitoring equipment during the project to ensure that survey and retrieval operations do not interfere with marine mammal activity. This project is complete. | $1,323,460.00 | Retrieval Technology |
| Elsipogtog First Nation | CFA 12 | This project supported the deployment of 150 Smart Buoys and 10 wireless buoy chargers to a fish harvester from Elsipogtog First Nation fishing. These smart buoys were utilized in CFA 12, where ghost gear is a large problem and poses a significant whale entanglement risk as well. This gear allowed fish harvesters to monitor their gear in real-time. This project is complete. | $250,975.00 | Technology |
| Fish, Food, and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-UNIFOR) | Southwest Coast of NL La Poile- Rose Blanche and Fox Roost NAFO in 3Pn, 3Ps and 4R |
The Fish, Food, and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) Ghost Gear Retrieval Project relied on the knowledge and expertise in gear retrieval operations through members and crew. This project focused on areas affected by Hurricane Fiona, using a combination of underwater cameras and grapnel technology for retrieval. The project summarized available gear storage (temporary and permanent) and disposal options, adding to a database of existing options in Newfoundland. This project is complete. | $218,713.31 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University (Marine Institute) | Newfoundland: Kippens, Codroy, Isle aux Morts, Rose Blanche and La Poile | A team from the Marine Institute conducted work in the areas affected by Hurricane Fiona. Community members were engaged to determine the most impacted locations, then team members were deployed to map the ocean floor to detect possible gear targets. In partnership with the Fishing Gear Coalition of Atlantic Canada, the material was collected where arrangements have been made to have it picked up and recycled. This project is complete. | $1,076,191.00 | Retrieval Technology |
| Fishing Gear Coalition of Atlantic Canada |
Atlantic Canada | The FGCAC End-of-life Fishing Gear Management Project in NS, NB, PEI, and Southwestern NL expanded the collection and recycling services of specific ghost gear, secure key partnerships, and report findings. This project helped reach more storm-affected regions and further limit the damage caused by the loss, abandonment, or mismanagement of fishing and aquaculture gear. This project is complete. | $497,616.34 | Disposal |
| Friends of McNabs Island Society | McNabs Island and Lawlor Islands, NS | The Friends of McNabs Island Society is a registered charity that has been cleaning up the beaches of McNabs and Lawlor Islands Provincial Park at the entrance to Halifax Harbour for three decades. 250 volunteers, including several youth groups, travelled to the islands to clean up ghost gear and related marine debris that litters the islands following hurricanes and winter storms. The retrieved debris was brought back to the mainland for proper disposal or recycling. This was a meaningful learning experience for the volunteers involved as they learned first-hand that pollution in our oceans is extremely harmful to fish and wildlife. This project is complete. | $16,232.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Fundy North Fishermen's Association | LFA 36 and 37 | This project focused on sharing best practices and practical methods for completing ghost gear retrieval. Ghost gear retrieval activities focused in LFA 36 and 37, where multiple fisheries were operating when Hurricane Fiona hit. These activities addressed local lost gear, as well as ghost gear that migrated from other areas to SWNB, as has been documented previously in our retrieval work following large storms. This project is complete. | $386,950.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Ghost Gear Disappear Inc. | Miscou Island, NB | This project was a beach clean-up project on Miscou Island, focused on the retrieval and disposal of abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear. Main activities included directed retrieval operations, training, gear recycling, and community engagement. This project is complete. | $90,000.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Gulf Nova Scotia Fleet Planning Board | LFA 26A and B | This project focused on the retrieval of ghost gear in the Southern Gulf. This project helped create sustainable solutions for the environment and fishing industry following the devastating impact Hurricane Fiona. This project is complete. | $600,000.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Harbour Authority of Toney River | LFA 26A | This project removed old fishing gear off the bottom of the ocean floor. It played a vital part of keeping the waters where harbour users fish free of debris that could negatively impact the ecosystem. This project is complete. | $157,100.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Harbour Authority of Wallace | LFA 26A | The Harbour Authority of Wallace managed the daily operations of the Wallace Harbour Wharf, serving the commercial fishing community. The Harbour Authority of Wallace used its knowledge of the local fishing industry and maritime operations to contribute to removing ghost gear from the surrounding waters. This project is complete. | $92,657.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Homarus Inc. | LFA 25 | This project detected and identified lost gear in Lobster Fishing Area 25 using sonar, subsea positioning, and underwater visuals. Well-equipped vessels retrieved identified targets and brought the gear to shore to be recycled, reused, or properly disposed. This project is complete. | $284,000.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Karen and Alan Barkhouse | Minas Basin and Upper Bay of Fundy | This project located and retrieved ghost gear with minimal damage to the underwater habitat. The areas of focus were the Minas Basin and Upper Bay of Fundy as the project participants are experienced with the heavy tides and currents of this area. This project is complete. | $100,000.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Listuguj Mi'gmaq Government Natural Resource Directorate | CFA 12 | This project covered three major elements: community awareness, retrieval campaigns, and the recycling of ghost gear. A two-week workshop in high-tech material acquisition and training was conducted by Merinov, involving multiple partners. The workshop included classroom and at-sea training, identifying recovery zones, detection, retrieval protocols, bests practices, equipment requirements, and retrieved gear dismantling. This project is complete. | $750,000.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Marine Thinking | LFA 24 and 38 | This project expanded on Marine Thinking's digital gear marking and tracking system. It also enabled the testing of a new automated RHIB vessel for the detection and recovery of lost fishing gear. This project is complete. | $1,263,000.00 | Technology |
| Maritime Fishermen's Union | LFA 26, and 27 | The Maritime Fishermen's Union (MFU) retrieved ghost gear in LFAs 26, and 27. Members participating in the project were fully engaged as partnerships created through this work are important to the MFU, and healthy oceans are critical to healthy fisheries. This project is complete. | $310,000.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Merinov | Gaspésie, Cap-Gaspé to Cap-d'Espoir, including around Bonaventure Island, coastal | This project reduced the impact of ghost fishing on the Gaspé Peninsula, particularly from lost lobster traps and snow crab pots. This area is part of the natural habitat of several species of marine mammals and includes two protected areas, namely the Banc-des-Américains and the Bonaventure Island and Percé Rock National Park. Three recovery techniques were utilized, a remotely operated vehicle, divers, or circular recovery machine. Recovered gear in good condition was reused, while gear in poor condition was recycled. This project is complete. | $380,000.00 | Retrieval Technology |
| Micmac's of Gesgapegiag Bands | CFA 12A and 12 | This project retrieved lost gear in CFA 12. This project helped lay the foundation for our fisheries fleet to actively participate in the clean-up and eco-friendly management of our fishing areas. This project is complete. | $250,000.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Nature NB | Gloucester and Northumberland Counties | This project conducted a ghost gear retrieval blitz from beaches on the Acadian Peninsula, which is critical habitat for the Piping Plover. This project provided education and training opportunities for local conservation groups, Indigenous groups, and industry partners as well as promoted collaborative planning to enhance coordination among the various groups involved in ghost gear work in northeastern New Brunswick. This project is complete. | $76,630.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| North Shore Oyster co. inc. | Cascumpec Bay, Prince County &Covehead Bay, Queens County, PEI | This project involved the replacement of all lines and anchors that hold North Shore Oyster Co. inc. cages in place with a new higher quality and larger diameter rope. The new line system holds up much better in extreme weather events, resulting in a much smaller chance of oyster cages breaking free and potentially becoming lost. This project is complete. | $69,479.00 | Technology |
| Ocean Conserancy | Gulf of St.Lawrence | This project modeled likely areas of abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) accumulation in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, with a focus on Crab Fishing Area 12 (CFA 12) and other areas affected by Hurricane Fiona. Data collected via DFO's mandatory gear loss reporting system indicates significant gear loss and high concentrations of ALDFG in this region. The model included recommendations for preventing, locating, and removing ALDFG in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. This project is complete. | $125,000.00 | Technology |
| PEI Aquaculture Alliance | Prince Edward Island | This project supported and enhanced the existing shoreline cleanup efforts of aquaculture industry members, local environmental groups, and the PEI Department of Fisheries and Communities. This project allowed for public participation in shoreline cleanups by placing waste receptacles at strategic locations, as well as developed new communication tools on how to report areas in need of attention and the availability of disposal sites funded by this project. This project is complete. | $570,000.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Petty Harbour Fishermen's Producer Co-operative Society Ltd. | Newfoundland-Burgeo, Rose Blanche / Harbour Le Cou, Codroy,Harbour Breton, and Hermitage | This project engaged local fish harvesters and harbour authorities from areas on the southwest coast of Newfoundland and Labrador that have been affected by Hurricane Fiona. Additionally, there was collaboration between community participants to locate, retrieve, and responsibly dispose of ghost gear. The project provided the knowledge, tools, and experience gained from three successful years of ghost gear retrievals on the eastern Avalon Peninsula to aid in the removal of lost gear and the recovery in these fishing communities. This project is complete. | $765,127.05 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Association Ltd. | LFA 25 and 26A | This project focused on the retrieval of ghost gear in Lobster Fishing Areas 25 and 26A. This project used local fish harvesters' experience and strong knowledge of surrounding waterways to remove as much lost gear from the water as possible. This project is complete. | $655,263.50 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Rassemblement de pêcheurs et pêcheuses des côtes des Îles (RPPCI) | LFA 22 | This project recovered and disposed of end-of-life lobster traps or traps that were been damaged by Hurricane Fiona. A recovery container for voluntary deposit was installed at each of the 6 participating ports for harvesters to deposit their damaged or unusable traps. Terrassement Maxime Deblois collected the contents of the containers, transported and dismantled traps, and recycled or disposed of the materials in a responsible manner. Unusable traps were provided to the Lab-Usine of the Centre de Recherche sur les milieux insulaires et Maritimes (CERMIM) to develop a responsible disposal process for lobster traps on the archipelago. This project is complete. | $630,000.00 | Disposal |
| Recycle on the Rock | Newfoundland and Labrador | This project helped end plastic pollution by developing recycling solutions for plastics currently destined for landfills. The project used for Recycle on the Rock to grow its recycling capacity to provide a viable, sustainable long-term recycling option for Atlantic Canada's ghost gear & end-of-life fishing gear. This project is complete. | $286,738.03 | Disposal |
| Regroupement des mariculteurs du Québec (RMQ) | Carleton-sur-Mer, Baie-des-Chaleurs, Région de la Gaspésie | This project targeted an abandoned mariculture site in Quebec that was previously used for mussel cultivation. The Regroupement des mariculteurs du Québec retrieved, recovered, and reused abandoned production equipment from the site, as well documented the techniques used, leading to improved clean-up operations of other abandoned sites. This project is complete. | $216,000.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Scotian Shores Shoreline Clean Up and Debris Removal | Bay of Fundy, NS, SWNS and Cape Breton | This project organized shoreline cleanups and island retrievals from April 2023 to March 2024 to remove shoreline debris and ghost gear. This project is complete. | $150,000.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| SeaTown Marine Inc. | LFA 24, 25 and 26A | This project used advanced sonar technology and a remotely operated vehicle to search, identify, and retrieve ghost gear. The project focused on collecting high-quality data from the seabed in Lobster Fishing Areas 24, 25, and 26A to locate potential points of interest. The ROV was used to verify and non-invasively retrieve the identified ghost gear. This project is complete. | $525,000.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
| Sustane Technologies Inc. | Atlantic Canada | This project processed ghost gear collected by retrieval partners as well as ocean plastics and plastics from end-of-life fishing gear from shoreline cleanups and transformed them into chemical feedstocks. These feedstocks can be used in place of virgin resins to make new plastics in a closed-loop process, including in the manufacture of new rope and plastic products for the fishing industry. This project is complete. | $500,000.00 | Disposal |
| Sweet Selects | Cascumpec, and Foxley River Prince Edward Island | This project adopted new technologies and materials in Sweet Selects' aquaculture operation to mitigate potential future ghost gear, as well as reducing the potential of plastics entering the ecosystem. This project allowed for an operation that is more resilient to extreme weather conditions. This project is complete. | $268,377.00 | Technology |
| The Ocean Legacy Foundation | Truro, Nova Scotia | This project was co-created between communities in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Mountain provinces to catalyze a national effort towards developing marine plastic collection processing by expanding existing networks, developing infrastructure, and increasing skill and training capacity for marine plastic management in Atlantic communities. This project established rope shredding and baling capacity in Truro, Nova Scotia, in partnership with Scotia Recycling, as well as supported Coastal Action in performing outreach and collection and work with Full Circle Plastics to continue developing lumber products from materials collected during cleanup efforts. This project is complete. | $551,270.20 | Disposal Technology |
| Titan Maritime Services Ltd | LFA 23 and 25 | This project focused on the removal of ghost gear in Lobster Fishing Area 23 and 25. Working with local fish harvesters and using a remotely operated vehicle and sonar, retrieval took place in areas with high concentrations of gear. The highly experienced team with local knowledge used a variety of vessels to retrieve the most gear possible. This project is complete. | $600,000.00 | Retrieval Disposal |
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