Discarded Fishing Nylon Nets are a Menace to Marine Organisms of South Odisha Coast: Bay of Bengal, India

Discarded fishing nylon nets, also known as derelict fishing gear or ghost nets, are one of the major components of the marine plastic litter that ultimately turns into a major cause of mortality to the marine macro and mega faunal communities. These organisms are not able to escape out are eventually killed thus such abandoned nets become potential killer trappers. Since these nets are made up of nylon, therefore non-biodegradable in nature remain in the sea for a longer period of time subsequently enters in to the marine food chain after fragmentation (microplastic). Predominantly entangled animal taxa in the derelict fishing gear are broadly grouped under crabs and horseshoe crabs, lobsters, stomatopods, prawns, gorgonids, sea turtles, fish, sea horses, dolphins, sharks, whales etc. Some of them are grouped under vulnerable, endangered or threatened category of IUCN. In this regard, the present study was conducted at the South Odisha Coast of India. On numerous occasions, unintended catch of marine organisms was observed with discarded nylon fishing nets from the year 2020 to 2022. The relative abundance calculated for the eleven observations made at South Odisha adjoining the Bay of Bengal reveals that at least 10 such faunal groups have been discovered; those are instantly caught in the derelict fishing gear. The relative abundance of trapped marine organism is: crabs and other crustaceans 20%, gorgonids 14%, fishes, stingrays and skates 28%, gastropods 10%, jellyfish 4%, bivalves and starfish equally contributed 6 % each, sea turtle hatchling 2%, hard corals 3%, miscellaneous taxa 7 % including horseshoe crabs and sea horse. Gorgonids, crabs, echinoderms and fishes are among the mostly trapped organisms. Albeit the present study is a preliminary attempt to create major baseline information however it will further helpful for developing proper management strategies to conserve the marine biodiversity.