Canada cleans up over 600 tonnes of lost fishing gear from areas hit by Hurricane Fiona

Federal Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Diane Lebouthillier has announced that the $30 million Hurricane Fiona Ghost Gear Fund, launched after Hurricane Fiona touched down in Atlantic Canada in 2022, contributed to the retrieval of over 22,205 units, or 695 tonnes of lost gear, as well as 453 km worth of rope in areas hardest hit by the hurricane.

Several fishing communities were devastated by Hurricane Fiona, the flooding and storm surge resulted in tonnes of gear being washed out to sea.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is now working on an action plan to prevent fishing gear loss in the future.