Ghost fishing refers to the phenomenon of abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear that continues to fish and trap marine animals, entangle and potentially kill marine life, smother habitat, and act as a hazard to navigation. This gear can include nets, long lines, and fish traps, and is one of the main types of debris impacting the marine environment today. Ghost fishing gear is responsible for the death of countless marine animals, and can also damage critical marine habitats such as coral reefs.

Ghost fishing gear is often nearly invisible in the dim light of the ocean, and can be left tangled on a rocky reef or drifting in the open sea. It is estimated that around 48,000 tons of ghost nets are generated each year, and these may linger in the oceans for a considerable time before breaking up. Ghost fishing gear can be caused by all kinds of fishing equipment, and some types have a much bigger impact than others.

To combat ghost fishing, organizations such as the NOAA Marine Debris Program are working with fishermen to provide a place to dispose of fishing gear free of charge and support new, innovative prevention strategies through technological advancements in fishing gear. The Fishing for Energy partnership provides a cost-free solution to fishermen to dispose of old, derelict or unusable fishing gear and to reduce the amount of derelict fishing gear in and around coastal waterways. The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has also organized regional workshops on best practices to prevent and reduce abandoned, lost or discarded fish gear to address the problem.

In addition to these efforts, individuals can also take action to help stop ghost fishing. This includes contacting government representatives to ensure that they take effective action on ghost fishing gear and support the establishment of a global binding treaty on marine plastic pollution.