Estimates of Gear Loss and Contributing Factors in Gillnet Fisheries in the Pangandaran Waters of Indonesia

Abstract

Abandoned, Lost, or Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG), or ghost gear, poses a major threat to marine ecosystems and the sustainability of fisheries. This study in Pangandaran, Indonesia, estimated gillnet losses, identified key causal factors, and developed management recommendations. Data was collected through field observations and structured interviews with 90 gillnet fishers at Cikidang Fishing Port (PP), analyzed using Confidence Intervals (CI) to estimate annual losses. All respondents reported ALDFG incidents, with losses ranging from 16,473–19,648 pieces (752,528–897,605 meters) per year, equivalent to IDR 8.66–10.33 billion. The main causes included strong currents, snagging on coral reefs, and adverse weather. ALDFG not only drives ghost fishing but also degrades marine habitats and imposes economic burdens on fishers. Recommended mitigation measures include awareness programs, adoption of modern technologies (GPS, RFID, AIS), gear marking, planning of fishing grounds, skill enhancement, use of durable materials, avoiding gillnet deployment in high-risk areas, lost gear reporting systems, onshore facilities for storing end-of-life fishing gear (EOLFG) and ALDFG, providing incentives to support these interventions, and circular economy practices. This study provides critical local quantitative data and causal analysis to inform management strategies and policy interventions to reduce ALDFG at the local level.