Ghost Gear Program Funding

On this page

• Overview
• Purpose of funding
• Program pillars
• Contact

Overview

The Ghost Gear Fund  is a federally funding program led by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, intended to support Canada's commitment to preventing and mitigating the risk of ghost fishing and encouraging the development of sustainable fishing practices, particularly as it applies to abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) domestically and abroad. This work is part of the Government of Canada's broader commitments to support national and international efforts to reduce plastics in our oceans and the use of plastics in government operations, and to reduce the occurrence and effects of ghost gear around the world.

To date, the Ghost Gear Program supported 143 projects, for a total of $58.3 million between 2020-2024.

Purpose of funding

The Ghost Gear Program  encourages the sustainable management of Canada's fisheries, Indigenous fisheries programs, aquaculture activities, and support commercial fishing harbours to take concrete actions to support ALDFG prevention, retrieval and responsible disposal. The Ghost Gear Program  also supported fish harvesters to acquire new gear technologies to reduce the occurrence of gear loss.

Program pillars

• Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) retrieval*;
• Responsible disposal;
• Acquisition and piloting of currently available innovative technologies; and
• International leadership.

*ALDFG retrieval programs were required to take place outside of active fishing seasons.

Contact

For additional information on the Ghost Gear Program or future funding opportunities, please e-mail DFO.GGProgram-ProgrammeEF.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.