Analyzing the Effects of Plastic Fishing and Aquaculture Gear in the Marine Environment

Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDGF or “Ghost Gear”) is commonly caused by rough weather, snags below the surface, unintentional line cutting from marine traffic and gear interactions. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada requires a socioeconomic report that includes a Canadian perspective from a local to national scale. Topics to be covered in this report include: • Impacts on tourism; • costs to coastal communities for conducting clean up efforts; • damage that results in the reduction of effectiveness of ecosystem services for industry and coastal communities; • impacts on potential revenue due to existing linear economic models that do not value recycling/repurposing end of life fishing gear; and • proposals for fisheries management measures and economic tools to incentivize independent gear retrieval and decrease fishing gear loss.

The team proposed in the technical bid must be comprised of a: - principal researcher; - co-researcher; - research specialist; and - junior researcher.

Duration of Contract: from contract award to April 10, 2025 with an irrevocable option to extend the term of the Contract by four (4) additional six-month periods under the same conditions.