Ghost Fishing Research Articles

Examining Rescue Attempts after Scuba Diving Accidents in South Korea: Causes and Strategies

Jang, S.-H. and Kim, S.-G., 2021. Examining rescue attempts after scuba diving accidents in South Korea: Causes and strategies. In: Lee, J.L.; Suh, K.-S.; Lee, B.; Shin, S., and Lee, J. (eds.), Crisis and Integrated Management for Coastal and Marine Safety. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 114, pp. 609–613. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The purpose of this study was to examine rescue attempts after scuba diving accidents in South Korea to understand the causes and contexts of the accidents and to propose alternative strategies. To this end, we collected and reviewed local and international literature alongside accident statistics data from the Korea Coast Guard and conducted interviews with eight people, including scuba diving instructors, coast guard rescue personnel, and leisure scuba divers. According to the results of the analysis, the accidents could be divided into injuries and deaths. Injuries included “rapid ascent,” “diving in unsafe conditions,” and “drifting,” and the causes or contexts included “insufficient education,” “Korean diving culture,” and “unplanned diving.” Deaths included “collecting accidents,” “entanglement in ghost nets,” and “disappearance,” and the causes or contexts included “poor underwater environment” and “solo diving.” Based on this analysis of accident rescue, we propose “planned diving,” the “use of local guides,” and “buddy diving” as the core strategies to reduce accidents. Thus, our study provides basic data to help understand the rescue of scuba diving accident victims in South Korea and to help avoid accidents.

Marine-dumped waste tyres cause the ghost fishing of hermit crabs.

Poorly managed waste tyres pose serious environmental and health risks, ranging from air pollution caused by fire, leaching of heavy metals and outbreaks of mosquitos, to destruction of vegetation and coral reefs. We report a previously unrecognized ecological risk to marine organisms from waste tyres. Over 1 year, we made monthly counts of hermit crabs (n = 1278) invading and/or being trapped within six tyres anchored to the seabed at 8 m depth in Mutsu Bay, Japan. A complementary aquarium experiment in which hermit crabs were released into a tyre confirmed that they could not escape. We report marine-dumped waste tyres to ghost fish in a manner analogous to discarded fishing gear. Because hermit crabs play important roles in coastal food webs as both prey and scavengers, declines in their numbers as a consequence of this ghost fishing might affect coastal ecosystems.

Abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear ‘ghost nets’ are increasing through time in Northern Australia

The remote Gulf of Carpentaria (GoC) represents 10% of Australia's coastline. This large, shallow sea supports high-value fishing activities and habitat for threatened species, and is a sink for abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) ‘ghost nets’, most originating from fishing activities outside of Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone. With growing concerns about the plastic waste along the world's coastlines, we retrospectively analyzed ghost net sighting information from four aerial surveys across 15 years, to investigate whether densities of ghost nets are changing through time or in space. We found an increase in ghost nets, despite more than a decade of illegal fishing countermeasure and clean-up efforts in the broader region. This demonstrates that the input of ALDFG into the system currently overwhelms the substantial net removal activities. We make recommendations for improving monitoring and consider the underlying drivers of nets being lost to improve ghost gear management on land and at sea.

Distribution and establishment of the alien Australian redclaw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus, in the Zambezi Basin

Abstract Crayfish are invasive polytrophic keystone species, which are phylogenetically unique on the African continent. The Australian redclaw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus is invasive in southern African freshwater systems including the Zambezi River Basin. Surveys conducted across the Zambezi Basin (Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Zambia) between 2017 and 2019 showed that C. quadricarinatus is broadly distributed across the Upper and Middle Zambezi and is rapidly spreading through natural and human‐mediated means across several ecoregions. The probability of capture (Pcapture), catch per unit effort (CPUE) and population characteristics of C. quadricarinatus from the recent Barotse floodplain invasion were compared with older invasions from Lake Kariba and Kafue River. The Pcapture and CPUE of C. quadricarinatus in the recently invaded region of the Barotse floodplain were similar to those of the older invasions. Mass and carapace length of C. quadricarinatus from the Barotse floodplain were significantly lower than those of C. quadricarinatus from the older invasions. Sex ratios differed significantly between the three invasive populations. The Barotse floodplain population had a disproportionate investment in females (65.3%) and intersex individuals (8.4%). No crayfish were detected in the Zambezian Headwaters or the Okavango Floodplains ecoregions, but current spread rates are 49 km yr−1 downstream and 12 km yr−1 upstream. Investment in population management and the prevention of spread will have high conservation value across the invaded regions in order to restrict crayfish ecological impacts via direct predation and competition. In areas where crayfish are in high abundance, existing fisheries are affected through damage to nets, leading to increased net abandonment and ghost gear pollution in invaded regions. The emphasis should be on developing cohesive transboundary biosecurity policies in southern Africa to limit further spread that will threaten the integrity of freshwater ecosystems. However, long‐term monitoring is needed to gauge invasion risk to sensitive areas such as the Okavango Floodplains ecoregion and determine field‐based ecological impacts.

Digital media reveal negative impacts of ghost nets on Brazilian marine biodiversity

Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is responsible for the entanglement of several marine species. Based on a search of digital media (i.e., Google and YouTubeBR), we assessed the negative impacts of ghost nets—a type of ALDFG—on Brazilian marine biodiversity. We found that ghost nets negatively affected crustaceans, fishes, reptiles, birds, and mammals in different parts of the Brazilian coast. Our reports include marine megafauna, such as the Bryde's whale and Guiana dolphin. In addition, we found that ghost nets impacted seven threatened species and had negative effects on animals within marine protected areas. Here, we provide an update on the negative impacts of ghost nets on Brazilian marine biota, but the real situation remains underestimated and somewhat obscure.

Determination of Ghost Fishing Starting Time by Four Different Baited Fish Traps in the Çanakkale Strait (North Aegean Sea)

In this study, the starting time of ghost fishing in baited fish traps were determined. Two separate trials using 4 different types of fish traps (foldable, conical, “O” shaped Round and cylindrical) were carried out in the Çanakkale Strait at a depth of 5m between July - December 2013. A total of 12 fish traps (3 for each trap type) were used in the study. Each trial lasted a period of 45 days. Major features of the traps were as follows: the foldable fish trap had “V” shaped inclined funnel; the conical fish trap had a conical entrance from the top; The “O” shaped fish trap had a “V” shaped entrance on the base; the cylindrical trap had a conical entrance on the side. In all trials fresh sardine, black mussel and bread placed in a net bag were used as bait and fixed in the traps. Underwater observations showed that fish entrapped in all trap types escaped from the traps within 8-10 days. Fish mortality was due to accidental entanglement of fish on the mesh material covering the traps or due to predation. Molluscs such as octopuses and squids escaped within 4-7 days whereas crabs suffered from cannibalism or starvation due to their lower escape rates. In conclusion, in the present study while trap ghost fishing for fish and cephalopods were not observed, ghost fishing for crabs were observed and was a factor of entrance design and location on traps.

The Proposal and Necessity of the Numerical Description of Nano- and Microplastics' Surfaces (Plastisphere).

The constantly growing amount of synthetic materials < 5 mm, called microplastics (MPs), is fragmented in the environment. Thus, their surface, Plastisphere, is substantially increasing forming an entirely new ecological niche. It has already been extensively studied by microbiologists observing the biofilm and by material scientists interested in the weathering of polymer materials. This paper aims to construct a bridge between the physical and chemical description of the Plastisphere and its microbiological and ecological significance. Various algorithms, based on the analysis of pictures obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), are proposed to describe in detail the morphology of naturally weathered polymers. In particular, one can study the size and distribution of fibres in a standard filter, search the synthetic debris for mapping, estimate the grain size distribution, quantitatively characterize the different patterns of degradation for polymer spheres and ghost nets, or calculate the number of pores per surface. The description and visualization of a texture, as well as the classification of different morphologies present on a surface, are indispensable for the comprehensive characterization of weathered polymers found inside animals (e.g., fishes). All these approaches are presented as case studies and discussed within this work.

Wide-Scale Population Connectivity Revealed by Postnesting Migrations of Green Sea Turtles from Ras Al Hadd, Oman

There is limited information on postnesting dispersal of green turtles Chelonia mydas from nesting sites in the Arabian region. Understanding habitat connectivity can promote effective conservation programs across a wider range of critical sea turtle habitats. We present postnesting migration data for 9 green turtles departing from Ras Al Hadd in Oman, one of the largest and most important nesting sites for this species in the northwest Indian Ocean (NWIO). Turtles migrated to Eritrea (n = 1), India (n = 2), Oman (n = 4), and the United Arab Emirates (n = 2), demonstrating connectivity for this species across the NWIO and linkages to known green turtle foraging areas. Turtles used deep international waters of the NWIO, and coastal waters of Eritrea, India, Iran, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. Alongside the potential for fisheries bycatch, ghost fishing, entanglement, and direct take in waters near nesting sites and at the dispersal destinations, these movement patterns reveal a need for coordinated efforts to address sea turtle mortality in fisheries at a regional level. These data enhance our knowledge of sea turtle distribution and connectivity in the Arabian region and will contribute to ongoing efforts to conserve sea turtles in the NWIO.

Catch Performance of Deep Water Cast Nets Used for Whiting along the Turkish Coast of the Black Sea (Turkey)

Deep water cast net fishing is regarded as a traditional method that has been used since antiquity in the Eastern part of the Black Sea. Unlike ordinary cast nets, it is used in deep waters from shallow up to 140 meters for catching whiting (Merlangius merlangus euxinus). In this study, important findings were obtained about the operational success and duration, catch efficiency and composition of traditional deep water cast nets. The highest operation success rate was obtained from 60 to 120 meter depth with 84.2%. The highest mean CPUE was established at 0.42 kg/operation in August. The catch rate of whiting, the main target species of the study, of the total catch was calculated as 98.8%. In this study, the effect of deep water cast nets on the ecosystem was also investigated. According to the findings, fishing season and operation depth significantly affect the catch per unit effort. In terms of ecosystem-based fisheries management due to high selectivity, the low impact of ghost fishing and high survival rate of the individuals, the deep water cast net fishing was found to be beneficial. It is recommended that the performance of deep water cast nets on different species in different seas should be investigated.

The ghost nets phenomena from the chemical perspective

Abstract The XXIst century might be called the Plastic Era. With the continually growing consumption and production, low recycling level, one observes the continuous transformation of the Blue Planet into the Ocean of Plastics. Among various problems related to the presence of synthetic materials in the environment, the ghost nets draw particular attention. They are present in the global ocean due to lost or abandoned fishing gear. Their impact on the environment is represented by the tones of animals caught. Moreover, they are an abundant source of secondary marine microplastic and release a considerable amount of toxic chemical compounds. To resolve this issue, an interdisciplinary approach is needed. Chemical research enables a better understanding of polymer behaviour and their weathering, whereas spectroscopy helps in qualitative analyses and proposes solutions. This paper aims to present the interdisciplinary study of this phenomenon and its broad context, including social awareness but underlines the crucial role of chemical research. One focuses on the basic studies of chemical and physical properties as this knowledge provides the first and essential step to tackle the problem.

Highest risk abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear

Derelict abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear have profound adverse effects. We assessed gear-specific relative risks from derelict gear to rank-order fishing methods based on: derelict gear production rates, gear quantity indicators of catch weight and fishing grounds area, and adverse consequences from derelict gear. The latter accounted for ghost fishing, transfer of microplastics and toxins into food webs, spread of invasive alien species and harmful microalgae, habitat degradation, obstruction of navigation and in-use fishing gear, and coastal socioeconomic impacts. Globally, mitigating highest risk derelict gear from gillnet, tuna purse seine with fish aggregating devices, and bottom trawl fisheries achieves maximum conservation gains. Locally, adopting controls following a sequential mitigation hierarchy and implementing effective monitoring, surveillance and enforcement systems are needed to curb derelict gear from these most problematic fisheries. Primary and synthesis research are priorities to improve future risk assessments, produce the first robust estimate of global derelict gear quantity, and assess the performance of initiatives to manage derelict gear. Findings from this first quantitative estimate of gear-specific relative risks from derelict gear guide the allocation of resources to achieve the largest improvements from mitigating adverse effects of derelict gear from the world’s 4.6 million fishing vessels.

The Olive Ridley Project (ORP): A successful example of how to engage researchers, conservation practitioners and civil society

The Olive Ridley Project (ORP) was set up to protect sea turtles and their habitats. The project was formed in 2013, and it became a registered charity in the UK in 2016. From its inception, ORP took a multidisciplinary approach to achieve its goals. Part of its objectives, and the reason why the charity came to fruition, are related to the issue of olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) entanglement in abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear (also known as ‘ghost gear’ or ‘ghost nets’), and the search for ghost gear and turtle entanglement ‘hot spots’ throughout the Indian Ocean. The initial ORP research questions were soon challenged by societal interests to develop inclusive educational programmes in local communities and tourist resorts that could raise awareness about the need for conservation of all sea turtle species. In February 2017, ORP opened the first veterinarian-run, fully equipped Marine Turtle Rescue Centre in the Maldives, bringing together the work of researchers, citizen scientists, volunteers, environmentalists, marine biologists and veterinarians. The present work of ORP sits on a strong and scientifically robust collaborative plan. Current ORP research projects range from sea turtle population analyses, spatial ecology, rehabilitation of injured and sick individuals, epibiont parasite analyses, precise turtle identification through photo-ID research, linking ghost gear to responsible fisheries, and analyses of ghost gear drift patterns. The programme enhances community education and outreach by engaging schoolchildren, organizing workshops, promoting sustainable use of ghost gear waste, and training citizen scientists and local fishing communities. The ORP programme encompasses many principles of research engagement, effectively combining scientific knowledge, education and action. This article explores all stages of the process (from research planning and design, to knowledge exchange and inter- and trans-disciplinary impact assessments), describing the active engagement originated by the ORP initiative. A reflective insight into the learning, enrichment and challenges of engaging researchers and community actors is also included, considering the current social and scientific framework.

Comparative analysis of physical performance and fishing efficiency between biodegradable PLA gill net and conventional PA gill net

With the development of fishery economy, fishing gear materials, such as cotton, which are generally biodegradable, have been replaced by synthetic materials, such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene and polyamide (PA), which are difficult to decompose. Synthetic fiber materials exhibit the advantages of high strength, wear resistance and corrosion resistance. Currently used fishing net materials can be classified into PA, PE and polyester, among which PA is the most commonly used and has been used for the longest time. However, fishing nets made from synthetic fibers, such as PA, are not able to degrade in marine environment for decades. When they are lost or abandoned at sea, they will continue to trap fish and other animals, becoming “ghost fishing” gears. Fish and other marine organisms trapped in the abandoned fishing nets will eventually die and become baits to lure other creatures, forming a vicious circle. To conserve the marine environment and mitigate the threats of “white pollution” and “ghost fishing”, the use of environment-friendly degradable materials instead of conventional materials has become one of the major innovations in the sustainable development of modern fisheries. In this study, we assessed the physical performance of monofilaments made from a biodegradable resin, polylactic acid (PLA), in the laboratory, and compared and analyzed the fishing efficiency of gill nets made of PLA monofilaments and conventional PA monofilaments in sea trials conducted on Langya Island from September to October 2019. Results showed that the biodegradable PLA gill net captured 75.0% less <italic>Portunus trituberculatus</italic> but 90.0% more <italic>Pneumatophorus japonicus</italic> than PA gill net. The total catch number by PLA gill net was slightly lower than that by PA gill net, and the fishing efficiency of PA gill net was approximately 60.0% higher than that of PLA gill net. Moreover, mechanical tensile tests showed that the mesh breaking strength of the two gill nets was both significantly reduced after the fishing operation. In addition, PLA meshes were more vulnerable to damage than conventional PA gill net due to the poor toughness and lack of elasticity and flexibility of PLA monofilaments. At the same time, the microscope picture showed that the damage of PA gill net appeared in the middle of the mesh, while PLA gill net in the knot. Furthermore, the breaking strength of PLA monofilaments was significantly lower than that of PA, so PLA gill net meshes were more easily to be broken. Although PLA gill net is not as efficient as PA gill net in terms of fishing performance, it exhibits a potential advantage in reducing “ghost fishing” and plastic pollution in the ocean, so the usage of PLA gill net can be extended with improvement on strength performance.

The IUU Nature of FADs: Implications for Tuna Management and Markets

World tuna catches reached 5.2 million metric tons in 2018, more than doubling since the early 1990s, primarily due to the introduction of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs). The widespread use of drifting FADs has increased the economic efficiency of the fleet by making it easier to aggregate and locate tuna schools, but at a high ecological cost, including: significant catches of juvenile tunas; bycatch of endangered, threatened and protected species; and “ghost fishing,” marine pollution, and sensitive habitat destruction by abandoned FADs. Recent analysis indicates that most deployed FADs are eventually lost, stolen, beached, or abandoned, continuing their destructive impacts. This paper examines the legal regime, market forces, and other factors that frame FAD use. We demonstrate that, because deployed FADs are legally considered to be fishing, when they drift into closed areas or otherwise contravene national or international agreements or regulations, they are Illegal, Unreported, and/or Unregulated (IUU); vessels using such FADs are therefore IUU. We suggest that introducing a transparent FAD ownership tracking system and requiring FAD owners to mitigate their impacts could substantially improve the effectiveness of tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) and redirect market incentives to properly support tuna management.

The Marine Plastic Litter Issue: A Social-Economic Analysis

The issue of marine plastic litter pollution is multifaceted, cross-sectoral, and ongoing in the absence of appropriate management measures. This study analysed the issue of marine plastic litter pollution in the context of the Descriptor 10 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and Good Environmental Status of the oceans and seas. The Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework was used to assess the causes, effects, and management measures to changes in the marine environment resulting from marine plastics pollution. We noted that less than 10 peer-reviewed publications have applied the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) model to the issue of marine plastics pollution. Some basic needs such as food security, movement of goods and services, and shelter are also some of the major drivers of marine plastic pollution. The use of plastics is linked to multiple economic sectors (fisheries, agriculture, transport, packaging, construction) and other human activities. A significant amount of the resulting pressures came from the economic sectors for packaging and construction. State changes occurred at the environmental (contamination and bioaccumulation), ecosystem (ingestion of plastics, ghost fishing) and ecosystem service levels (supply of sea food, salt and cultural benefits), with possible loss of jobs and income being some of the observed impacts on human welfare. Responses as management measures, which are tailored to meet each component of the DPSIR framework, were identified. These included policies, regulations, technological advancement and behavioural change. The research acknowledges the issue of marine plastics pollution as a global environmental problem and recommends a trans-disciplinary approach, involving all types of stakeholders. Future research and analysis applying the DPSIR framework will be useful to provide the information necessary for the effective, adaptive management of litter pollution by marine plastics.

Exclusive predation of sea turtle hatchlings by juvenile blacktip reef sharks Carcharhinus melanopterus at a turtle nesting site in Malaysia

This study reports the discovery of the exclusive predation of sea turtle hatchlings by several juvenile blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) in Chagar Hutang bay on Redang Island, Malaysia, in the South China Sea. Three dead specimens of C. melanopterus were retrieved from ghost nets, and the entire digestive tracts of these sharks solely contained the partially digested bodies of sea turtle hatchlings, with no evidence of the remains of any other prey. Thus, juvenile C. melanopterus may opportunistically feed primarily on turtle hatchlings during times when hatchling abundance is high.

Ghost fishing impacts on hydrocorals and associated reef fish assemblages

Ghost fishing is a threat to many marine environments, as lost or discarded fishing gear (e.g., fishing lines, nets) continues to fish by entangling, damaging or killing various organisms. Among the benthic organisms that live on tropical reefs, the group probably most affected, due to their shape, are the branching corals. These corals provide refuge, foraging and breeding sites, especially for fishes and therefore impacts on coral structure could compromise the ecology of associated species. We tested if fishing lines entangled on the branching coral Millepora alcicornis would result in an increase in colony mortality, decrease in abundance and richness of fishes and changes in the behavior of associated reef fish. In the field, we estimated the volume of M. alcicornis colonies and its mortality percentages, and videos were recorded to evaluate abundance and richness of fish assemblages and fish behavior. Our results showed that coral mortality increased with increasing amounts of entangled fishing lines. Fish assemblages were similar in M. alcicornis colonies with or without entangled fishing lines. Nevertheless, we observed a significant decrease in the frequency of feeding attempts in two herbivore fish species (Acanthurus bahianus and Ophioblennius trinitatis) that play an important role in coral-reef dynamics, controlling algae abundances. Therefore, ghost fishing has negative impacts on shallow reef ecosystems, directly affecting branching corals and important coral-fish interactions. Management of tropical shallow reef environments should consider regulation and monitoring of coastal fisheries to ensure reef integrity.

The ups and downs of traps: environmental impacts, entanglement, mitigation, and the future of trap fishing for crustaceans and fish

Abstract Fishing has many types of impacts on the marine environment. Degradation of seafloor habitats by trawling has been widely studied, along with bycatch mortality, and ghost fishing by traps. Traps or pots are commonly used for catching crustaceans and other organisms, but little research has been conducted on the environmental impacts of trap fishing. Trap fishing causes direct impacts on benthic habitats during setting and retrieval, including dragging along the seafloor, which can lead to the damage and destruction of habitat components such as corals, sponges, and other epifauna. Lines connecting multiple traps increase the overall footprint and cause additional damage. Lost traps and debris can cause damage to coral, submerged aquatic vegetation, and epifauna, especially if moved by storms. Although the trap footprint is small, movement of the trap can expand the impact footprint by an order of magnitude. Trap lines cause whale entanglement and death, and there is much interest in reducing the number of vertical lines as well as their potential for entanglement. New technologies for deploying, locating, and recovering traps are now being developed. The future of trap fisheries will require research on new ways to reduce their negative impacts on benthic and pelagic resources.

Assessment of the physical characteristics and fishing performance of gillnets using biodegradable resin (PBS/PBAT and PBSAT) to reduce ghost fishing

Abstract Ghost fishing is caused by derelict synthetic‐fibre nets that have been lost at sea. Thus, biodegradable nets have been developed with the aim of protecting marine ecosystems. The performance of biodegradable nets and their ability to replace conventional gillnets was assessed. Two types of biodegradable nets were used in the experiment: one made from a blended resin containing 90 wt% polybutylene succinate (PBS) and 10 wt% polybutylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate (PBAT) (Bio‐1), and the other made from a polybutylene succinate co‐adipate‐co‐terephthalate (PBSAT) resin (Bio‐2) with improved flexibility and physical homogeneity. For No. 3 monofilaments (standard diameter, Ø, 0.284 mm), Bio‐1 and Bio‐2 both showed a wet straight‐line breaking strength of around 99% that of polyamide (PA). For No. 2 monofilaments (Ø 0.200 mm), the wet straight‐line breaking strengths of Bio‐1 and Bio‐2 were 84.9 and 93.0% that of PA, respectively, indicating worse physical properties for Bio‐1 at No. 2 thickness. The wet knotted breaking strengths of No. 3 thickness Bio‐1 and Bio‐2 were 92.9 and 82.7% that of PA, respectively. The straight‐line breaking strength of Bio‐2 was 1.1 times that of Bio‐1. The wet knotted breaking strengths of Bio‐1 and Bio‐2 were 80.2 and 93.4% that of PA, respectively, and the knotted breaking strength of Bio‐2 was around 1.2 times that of Bio‐1. Regarding flexibility, for No. 3 thickness monofilaments, the mean wet stiffness values of PA, Bio‐1, and Bio‐2 were 9.50, 15.23, and 9.68 g, respectively, indicating that Bio‐2 was similar to PA and around 1.6 times softer than Bio‐1. The fishing performance, by weight, was PA &gt; Bio‐2 &gt; Bio‐1; however, the difference between PA and Bio‐2 was not statistically significant. Biodegradable nets may not be a perfect solution, but we believe that they can contribute greatly to reducing ghost fishing and protecting marine ecosystems.

Estimating the Benefits of Derelict Crab Trap Removal in the Gulf of Mexico

Ghost fishing in derelict blue crab traps is ubiquitous and causes incidental mortality which can be reduced by trap removal programs. In an effort to scale the benefits of such removal programs, in the context of restoring the Gulf of Mexico after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, this paper calculates the ecological benefits of trap removal by estimating the extent of derelict blue crab traps across Gulf of Mexico waterbodies and combining these estimates with Gulf-specific crab and finfish mortality rates due to ghost fishing. The highest numbers and densities of traps are found in Louisiana, with estimates ranging up to 203,000 derelict traps across the state and up to 41 traps per square kilometer in areas such as Terrebonne Bay. Mortality rates are estimated at 26 crabs per trap per year and 8 fish per trap per year. The results of this analysis indicate a Gulf-wide removal program targeting 10% of derelict traps over the course of 5 years would lead to a combined benefit of more than 691,000 kg of crabs and fish prevented from mortality in ghost fishing traps. These results emphasize the importance of ongoing derelict trap removal programs. Future work could assess additional benefits of trap removal programs, such as fewer entanglements of marine organisms, improved esthetics, and increases in harvestable catch. Lastly, this model could be utilized by fishery managers to calculate the benefits of other management options designed to decrease the extent and impact of derelict fishing gear.