How can Marking of Recreational Fishing Gear Help Reduce Gear Loss?

This resource records the outcomes of the HELCOM-SwAM-KIMO webinar on marking recreational fishing gear. The event brought together policymakers, scientists, fishing-sector representatives and recreational fishing communities to examine how clear gear marking can help prevent and reduce abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear. It addresses the environmental consequences of lost nets, lines and traps, including ghost fishing, habitat damage and microplastic generation. The webinar also considered new European requirements for marking certain passive fishing gear and provided a forum for exchanging experience and practical solutions. The resource supports implementation of regional and European measures to reduce recreational gear loss.