1. Volume of lost gear:
   • Approximately 2,150 km² of gillnets3
   • 75,049 km² of purse seine nets3
   • 218 km² of trawl nets3
   • 739,583 km of longline mainlines3
   • Over 25 million pots and traps3
2. Ecological impact:
   • ALDFG affects 66% of marine animals, including all sea turtle species and 50% of seabirds1
   • 914 megafaunal species are impacted by entanglement and ingestion, with over 100 of these being endangered species4
3. Composition of ocean plastic:
   • In the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, about 80% of the plastic comes from fishing activities at sea4

A major issue not fully addressed is the retrieval and recycling of ALDFG (Abandoned, Lost, or Discarded Fishing Gear), specifically high-value gear such as nylon nets and lines, which are often left behind due to cost constraints or the lack of convenient recycling systems.

Subproblem: The infrastructure to incentivize large-scale retrieval of lost fishing gear is limited. Most fishing vessels do not have the economic incentive to bring old gear back to port for recycling due to disposal fees, lack of convenient facilities, or logistical issues. Even when collected, the process of recycling this waste into valuable products like nylon pellets for the textile industry, or 3D printing filaments, is underdeveloped and localized.

First Principles to Apply:

1. Economic Incentive Misalignment: Fishing gear is often expensive, and retrieval is not incentivized financially unless the disposal is convenient or monetarily rewarding. Fishers would rather abandon gear than return it if there is no clear financial upside. Principle: Create financial alignment by designing low-cost return mechanisms, or reward fishers through subsidies, rebates, or access to better/cheaper gear.
2. Cost of Disposal and Transport: There are high costs associated with returning gear, which outweigh the benefits. Principle: Reduce these costs by either offering on-the-spot collection services at ports or by establishing a robust reverse-logistics system where fishermen don't incur additional transport or time costs.
3. Lack of Immediate Convenience: Ports may lack sufficient or conveniently located facilities for disposing of and recycling old gear. Principle: Simplify logistics through a distributed network of small-scale collection stations, similar to how battery or bottle deposit programs operate in local markets.

Potential Solutions:

• Create a streamlined “gear buyback” system where fishers can immediately exchange old or broken gear for cash or credits toward new gear at any nearby port.
• Partner with large fishing companies to offer reduced license fees or quotas in exchange for documented returns of old gear.
• Introduce mobile collection units or at-sea collection partnerships with nearby vessels to retrieve gear, thereby eliminating the need for fishers to return to port solely for gear disposal.

Subproblem 2: Even when collected, the process of recycling this waste into valuable products like nylon pellets for the textile industry or 3D printing filaments is underdeveloped and localized.

First Principles to Apply:

1. Recycling Efficiency and Cost: Recycling gear like nylon nets is not always cost-effective due to the variability in material condition, contamination, or lack of economies of scale. Principle: Simplify and optimize the recycling process through automation or modular systems that can break down and purify materials more efficiently.
2. Limited Market for Recycled Products: The demand for recycled materials is relatively niche and geographically concentrated, which limits large-scale viability. Principle: Create scalable markets by expanding the use of recycled materials into new sectors or industries beyond the immediate focus on 3D printing or fashion.
3. Lack of Infrastructure in Ports: Not all ports have the necessary recycling infrastructure, which restricts large-scale collection and processing. Principle: Decentralize processing by investing in mobile or mini recycling facilities that can be set up in ports or on larger ships, reducing transport costs and improving material recovery.