concluded that traps and gillnets pose the greatest problem in 

 this regard and that trawl nets and longlines present a lesser 

 threat. Mitigation of ghost fishing by traps was considered 

 technologically simple due to the availability of time-failure 

 mechanisms to release trap panels. 



To address ghost fishing problems, the Working Group 

 recommended, among other things, that: (1) fishery agencies 

 conduct simulation studies using different types of fishing gear 

 to determine the extent to which the gear can cause ghost 

 fishing, and the species affected; (2) steps be taken to develop 

 and require time-failure mechanisms for crab and fish traps in 

 fisheries known or suspected to have ghost fishing problems; and 

 (3) further studies of pelagic gillnets be conducted to assess 

 the rates at which they ball up and the length of time they pose 

 a significant entanglement hazard to marine life. 



The Working Group on Ingestion of Debris concluded that, 

 regardless of taxa, there appear to be three general categories 

 of possible ingestion effects: mechanical blockage or injury of 

 the digestive tract; lessening feeding drives by filling stomachs 

 and providing a false sense of satiety; and absorption of toxic 

 chemicals from plastics. The Working Group recommended that sea 

 turtles be accorded highest priority with respect to ingestion 

 research and that studies be undertaken to assess the range and 

 significance of plastic induced pathophysiological effects (e.g., 

 correlating lesions in the digestive tracts of turtles with the 

 prevalence of plastics in the gut) . Regarding birds, the Group 

 recommended that studies be undertaken to determine: (1) if 

 plastics can induce a false sense of satiety; (2) the retention 

 time and erosion rates of ingested plastics; and (3) if ingested 

 plastics pose any toxic threat. 



The Working Group on Economic Impacts of Marine Debris 

 concluded that, in view of the need to change human behavior, 

 incentive schemes may be an appropriate and cost-effective way to 

 control marine debris pollution if education and moral suasion 

 are insufficient. The Group proposed a list of projects to 

 investigate the use of fees and incentives, including: deposits 

 on non-degradable products; fees on the use of non-degradable 

 materials; and incentives at the production level. The Working 

 Group also recommended that studies be undertaken to assess 

 economic costs associated with debris on beaches, entanglement of 

 wildlife, ghost fishing, damage to vessels and fishing gear, and 

 possible lost or diminished sales of seafood due to consumer 

 perceptions of pollution problems prompted by marine debris. 



The Working Group on Technological Solutions concluded that 

 further work is needed to define the types and amounts of marine 

 debris returned to port due to Annex V requirements. However, it 

 felt that technologies and methodologies now exist to manage most 

 of the wastes generated at sea. The Group recommended that data 



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