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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

The Government of Canada is proud to commit $10 million to combat ghost gear through Canada’s Ghost Gear Fund and by partnering with the Global Ghost Gear Initiative

Government of Canada is providing funding to external organizations through contribution agreements (
Government
)
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    Description
    Description

    In January 2020, Fisheries and Oceans Canada launched the Ghost Gear Fund to support projects under four pillars: ghost gear retrieval, uptake of new technologies to prevent or mitigate ghost gear, responsible disposal, and international leadership. The Program was funded to take concrete actions to support ghost gear prevention, retrieval and responsible disposal. It also supports fish harvesters to acquire new gear technologies to reduce gear loss. To date, the Program has invested $16.7M into contribution agreements over two years, (2020-2022) and has funded 49 industry-led projects; 4 international and 45 domestic. This program has been able to remove 1,296 tonnes of ghost gear as well as 153km of rope from our oceans to date. The Government of Canada is proud to commit 10 million dollars to the Ghost Gear Fund to continue this important work this year.

    Partners

    The Government of Canada is providing funding to multiple domestic and international partners including private entities, non-governmental organization, philanthropic organizations and others. The list of projects and partners can be found here: https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/management-gestion/ghostgear-equipementfantome/program-programme/projects-projets-eng.html#projectDescriptions

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    14.1.1

    (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

    14.2

    By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

    14.2.1

    Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

    14.3

    Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

    14.3.1
    Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

    14.4

    By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

    14.4.1
    Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

    14.5

    By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

    14.5.1
    Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

    14.6

    By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

    14.6.1

    Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

    14.7

    By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

    14.7.1

    Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

    14.a

    Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

    14.a.1
    Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

    14.b

    Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

    14.b.1

    Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    14.c.1

    Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

    Name Description
    14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    Allocation of $10M for projects to be completed by April 1, 2023 that meet the program criteria and address abandoned, lost and otherwise discarded fishing gear

    Financing (in USD)
    Investment of $16.7M into contribution agreements over two years
    Financing (in USD)
    Commitment of 10 million dollars to the Ghost Gear Fund to continue this important work this year
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
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    Timeline
    01 May 2022 (start date)
    01 April 2023 (date of completion)
    Entity
    Government of Canada is providing funding to external organizations through contribution agreements
    SDGs
    Other beneficiaries

    N/A

    Ocean Basins
    Global
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Sustainable fisheries, Marine pollution, Sustainable blue economy
    Countries
    Canada
    Canada
    Headquarters
    Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
    Contact Information

    Jessika, Policy Analyst