What Is Ghost Gear?
A clear guide to abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear.
What is ghost gear?
Ghost gear is abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear in the ocean. It can include nets, lines, rope, traps, and other fishing equipment that is no longer under anyone’s control.
Why is ghost gear a problem?
Fishing gear is designed to catch marine life. When it is lost or abandoned, it can keep drifting, entangling animals, damaging habitats, and breaking down into smaller plastic pieces over time.
What does ALDFG mean?
ALDFG stands for abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear. It is the technical term often used by researchers, ocean organizations, and conservation groups when talking about ghost gear.
What is Second Tide doing about ghost gear?
Second Tide is a Jacksonville-based startup raising awareness about ghost gear through the Founders Tee. The brand is building toward a future circular model where recovered fishing gear could become useful products.
Is Second Tide removing ghost gear right now?
Not yet. Second Tide has not funded cleanups, removed ghost gear, or confirmed cleanup partners yet. Today, purchases help fund the next steps of the startup, including future shirt batches, samples, research, and partnership-building.
Does the Founders Tee contain ghost gear?
No. The Founders Tee is not made from recovered fishing gear, recycled material, organic material, or certified material. It is a 100% cotton Comfort Colors tee. Second Tide is not there yet.
Why start with a shirt?
The Founders Tee is the first product. Every purchase helps fund Second Tide’s next steps while bringing more attention to the problem of ghost gear.