How much marine life do abandoned 'ghost' fishing nets kill each year?

The answer

Ghost fishing nets - abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear - make up an estimated 10% of all ocean plastic pollution, totaling roughly 640,000 metric tons entering the seas annually according to the UN Environment Programme. These nets continue catching and killing marine life for hundreds of years through a process called ghost fishing. An estimated 136,000 seals, sea lions, and whales become entangled each year, along with millions of fish, sea turtles, and seabirds. A single lost drift net can be over 50 kilometers long. The Global Ghost Gear Initiative, launched in 2015, coordinates retrieval programs across 30 countries. Modern biodegradable fishing nets are being developed that break down within two years if lost.