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logo 11/25/2024 12:56:35 AM     
What is a ghost trap and why do they threaten marine life? 
By Andrea Chu US Source: wtsp 7/21/2022
Andrea Chu
A baby dolphin was rescued on Wednesday under Pier 60 in Clearwater after getting tangled in the remnants of a crab trap.

After an unsuccessful attempt to reunite the calf with its mother, Clearwater Marine Aquarium decided to release it back into the wild. But, the dolphin appeared lethargic and struggled to swim away, leading to the decision to bring the calf to SeaWorld for rehabilitation.
 



And, remember Winter? CMA's dolphin-turned-movie star, who died in 2021, was also trapped in a crab trap as a calf. It was the rope of that tightly-wound trap that caused Winter to lose her tail flukes.

It's stories like these that highlight a problem that conservationists have been trying to curb for years: ghost fishing.
What is ghost fishing?

Ghost fishing is a term to describe what happens when pieces of derelict fishing gear "continue to fish," according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

In other words, gear that is discarded, lost or abandoned continues to trap fish and animals, which can harm or kill them. The derelict traps, lines and nets can also destroy habitats, wrap around boats' rudders and propellers and compete with active fisheries trying to catch species that are important to the economy.

 
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