Survey on impact of lost fishing gear – help with research!

We’re very pleased to share with you a new survey created to support research by Natural England, to map the distribution of lost and abandoned fishing gear on the Island and wider Solent region. Please see the information below explaining the survey:

Help us understand the distribution of lost and abandoned fishing gear on the Isle of Wight and across the wider Solent area. Lost fishing gear can impact marine ecology through smothering, abrasion, trapping wildlife and spreading invasive species. It creates a hazard to the marine environment and can be a safety hazard for people using the coast. It can also compete with sustainable fishing practices in the area. This survey, supporting research being undertaken by Natural England, aims to map lost and abandoned fishing gear to understand the local extent and distribution of its impact, taking the first steps towards the removal of these items where possible.

We’re hoping to get as wide of a reach as possible to build a comprehensive dataset. If you’re able to share this survey with your network and on your social media, that would be greatly appreciated.

The link to the survey is here: https://arcg.is/0z19qq1

QR code (and attached):