A small scale fisherman from Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK, has won World Animal Protection UK’s Sea Change Champion Award, for tackling the problem of ghost fishing gear.
The award is given to a leading individual who is tackling the problem and reducing the impact of lost fishing gear on the marine environment as part of the charity’s Sea Change Campaign.
Graham Doswell won the award after being nominated by local businessman, Harry Owen from MCB Seafoods, East Sussex, who has been instrumental in establishing net collection points for fishermen in the UK.
Christina Dixon, Sea Change UK Campaign Manager, said: “Graham stood out as someone who is environmentally-minded, works hard to promote responsible fishing and acts as a community ambassador for recycling fishing nets when they have come to the end of their life.”
“This type of solution is something we hope to see happening in more ports around the country as we all work together to close the loop on fishing gear.”
Mr Doswell has now been added to the list of previous recipients of the award, all of whom have made an outstanding contribution to addressing ghost gear, from modifications to fishing equipment, to limiting the impact of ghost fishing, to championing schemes designed to recover ghost gear and finding solutions to recycle equipment at the end of its life.
An estimated 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear are abandoned, lost or discarded in oceans globally each year. The impact of this ‘ghost gear’ on animals and the marine environment is staggering.
