Workshop On Developing Practical Guidelines For The Removal Of Abandoned, Lost And Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG), 12 To 15 January 2026, SEAFDEC/MFRDMD Office, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia.
Marine debris is a significant and persistent threat to marine ecosystems, with plastics dominating global pollution loads. Among these, abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) poses particularly severe ecological, fisheries, and socio-economic impacts due to its durability, mobility, and continued “ghost fishing” effects.
Originating mainly from commercial and small-scale fisheries, ALDFG enters the marine environment through gear loss, abandonment, illegal disposal, and operational challenges such as severe weather, gear conflicts, and inadequate port facilities. Once introduced offshore, ALDFG can disperse widely across coastal, pelagic, and deep-sea habitats.
In this context, MFRDMD had conducted the Workshop on Developing Practical Guidelines for the Removal of ALDFG (12–15 January 2026) aims to strengthen regional understanding of ALDFG impacts, develop standardized operational removal guidelines, and formulate a preliminary, coordinated action plan for effective and environmentally responsible ALDFG management.
