How we combat ghost fishing in Western Norway

Efforts to combat ghost fishing have been significant in southeastern Norway over the past seven years. Now, a major push is needed in Western Norway. The Institute of Marine Research and Green-bay AS have collaborated to recover 12,000 pieces of ghost gear and studied their impact on our coastal species. Through this work, they have become specialists in seabed cleanup using advanced technology, including underwater drones, large-scale seabed mapping, and artificial intelligence. Volunteer divers along the entire coast have for many years helped restore the seabed by retrieving 30,000 lost fishing gear items and releasing trapped animals. They are also ready to continue the work. These two approaches complement each other and together ensure that coastal fishing gear can be recovered at all depths. What will the seabed in Western Norway look like when the calendar reads 2030 and the Decade of the Ocean is over? And who can help? The event will feature lunch, lectures, a panel discussion, a demonstration of cleanup methods, and a tour of HI’s workshop.
The event will be opened by Director of Marine Research Nils Gunnar Kvamstø, and the panel will feature representatives from the Directorate of Fisheries, the Norwegian Diving Federation, the Coastal Fishermen’s Association, and the Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature.

Doors open: 11:30 a.m.

Start of lecture: 12:00

Maximum capacity: 40