Concluding Remarks

It is clear that there is an urgent need for coordinated and considered efforts to mitigate the impact of end-of-life (EOL) and derelict fishing nets and associated gear. Over the last decade, there has been a significant increase in awareness of the impact of discarded fishing nets, which cause negative impacts on marine life, ecosystems, human health, and the economy. Despite the increased awareness there remain multiple and significant knowledge and data gaps. Collectively, we are still missing vital information on the source, distribution and fate of marine plastics, and their impact on species, particularly at a population level. There are numerous reports of individuals becoming entangled or ingesting plastics, causing injury or mortality (e.g. see Chap. 1). However, a comprehensive understanding of the scale of the impact of marine plastics, put into context with other threats and pressures faced by marine species, and how this is changing over time, currently eludes us.