Biodegradable fishing nets may help protect marine animals
When synthetic non-biodegradable fishing nets are lost, abandoned, or discarded at sea, they may continue to catch fish and other animals for a long period of time鈥攁 phenomenon is known as 'ghost fishing'.
New research shows that a biodegradable net material can be used to create nets that have similar catch rates as conventional nets but decompose after a certain period of time under water.
The Animal Conservation findings suggest that biodegradable netting may become a feasible alternative to conventional nylon netting and can contribute to reducing ghost fishing.
More information: S. Kim et al. Use of biodegradable driftnets to prevent ghost fishing: physical properties and fishing performance for yellow croaker, Animal Conservation (2016).
Provided by Wiley