Ocean gear cleanup efforts are turning waste into useful products
In Canada, discarded fishing gear—also known as “ghost gear”—is being recycled into useful products like plant pots, park benches, and even swimwear. Nonprofits such as Ocean Legacy have diverted nearly 2.9 million pounds of marine waste by collecting old nets, ropes, and traps through cleanups across the country. These materials are repurposed into durable goods by partner companies like Legacy Plastic and Plaex, while Toronto’s Saltwater Collective turns nylon waste into sustainable swimwear. This recycling initiative is part of the federal Ghost Gear Program, which has invested over $58 million since 2019 to reduce marine pollution. Ghost gear poses a serious threat to ocean life, entangling whales, seals, and turtles, and makes up nearly half of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Experts call for policy changes to encourage fishers to retrieve lost gear and require manufacturers to use more recycled plastics, supporting a more circular and sustainable economy. Learn more about this initiative.
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