Locating Ghost Gear Targets and Evaluating Removal Efforts in Narragansett Bay
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Example side scan sonar results.
The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation (CFRF) manages a ghost fishing gear removal program working with commercial fishermen, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, and other conservation and ghost gear organizations to identify targets and remove and recycle ghost fishing gear from Rhode Island waters. A directed side scan sonar survey of Narragansett Bay, RI, conducted in August 2023 by CSR Geosurvey, found 2,200 ghost traps for removal, emphasizing the magnitude of the problem in the Bay. In 2024, we conducted 5 removal surveys guided by the side scan sonar results and removed the equivalent of 5,800 pounds of scrap metal and 1,000 pounds of rope from the Bay.
Our removal efforts in Narragansett Bay are continuing through at least 2026 with support from this project and our Fishermen on the Frontlines Initiative.
Narragansett Bay is a dynamic habitat that experiences active tidal action, and the bay’s currents and circulation patterns can result in changing sediment deposition. As a result, previously located target locations for ghost gear removal may have shifted. In addition, the bay supports both fixed and mobile commercial fishing activities in a relatively small area, which makes it especially susceptible to fishing gear interactions. It is difficult to evaluate the percentage of ghost gear we have removed or the rate of reaccumulating ghost fishing gear into the area. To address these issues, we are conducting additional side scan sonar surveys in 2025 and 2026 to update ghost fishing gear targets for removal in Narragansett Bay, support other funding for removal activities, and evaluate the success of our previous removals in reducing ghost gear in Narragansett Bay.
For more program highlights, check out our project summary flyer.
PROject GOALS:
Conduct a side scan survey of past removal areas to identify targets for 2025 and 2026 removal surveys.
Conduct ghost gear removal surveys in 2025 and 2026
Conduct a post-removal side scan sonar survey in 2026
Disseminate all data collected from retrieved gear
Evaluate the project
PARTNERSHIPS
Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island
The Global Ghost Gear Initiative
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
CFRF PROJECT TEAM:
Susan Inglis - Project Lead
Tori Thomas
Jack Moore
N David Bethoney
Removal Updates
The 2025 ghost gear removal season for our Narragansett Bay removal program has come to an end! Check out the blog post below to learn what we accomplished this year.
