Small actions make a big difference for marine life along our coast. Stop the Strangle’s collection bins help to intercept discarded fishing line before it reaches the ocean, and the project is scaling up to cover more ground!
South Africa (23 January 2026) – The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa are doing the work to combat stats that reflect the shocking impact that discarded, lost or abandoned fishing gear has on marine life.
To put it into perspective – An estimated 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear is lost or abandoned in oceans around the world every year. That makes up roughly 10% of all marine litter, and in some regions, up to 70–80% of large plastic debris.
Around 100,000 marine mammals and more than a million seabirds, turtles, and sharks are killed annually after becoming entangled in discarded fishing gear
Ghost fishing refers to lost or abandoned line, nets and traps that continue to do what they were designed to do long after they’re discarded, catch and hold.
Fishing line is particularly dangerous because it’s strong, slow to break down, and almost invisible in water. Once it enters the ocean, it can wrap around whales, turtles, seals and fish, which often leads to severe injury or death.
Line left behind on rocks, piers or beaches poses a massive risk. Wind, waves and tides frequently carry it back into the sea, restarting the cycle all over again. That’s the challenge. The encouraging part is that it’s also one of the most preventable forms of marine pollution.
To tackle the problem WESSA has expanded its Stop the Strangle campaign, scaling up the collection of discarded fishing line before it reaches the ocean. Dedicated ghost fishing line collection bins are now being rolled out along the coast.
The initiative forms part of the Ford 100-Bin Relay Project, supported by the Ford Wildlife Foundation. It focuses on coastal areas frequented by people including marinas, Blue Flag beaches and Green Coast sites. Fishing activity is common in these spots.
Recently activated sites include Mossel Bay, Jeffreys Bay, McDougalls Bay in Port Nolloth, Leisure Bay and Mpenjati Conservancies in KwaZulu-Natal, as well as Club Mykonos Marina and Royal Alfred Marina.
Beyond keeping line out of the ocean, the project also supports long-term conservation by analysing what’s collected, which helps build a clearer picture of where ghost gear is coming from and how best to stop it.
“These activations aim to raise public awareness, encourage hands-on action, and spark conversations about sustainable ocean stewardship.” shares WESSA.
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