How to reduce current and future ghost net harms

Written in Fall 2023, "How to reduce current and future ghost net harms" was the final project for my marine biology course. For this capstone, students were allowed to choose between a written grant proposal, a multimedia crowd-sourced funding campaign prototype, a video essay or podcast or a policy brief. I decided to write a policy brief, which included the creation of an infographic.

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For this, I selected a topic I have been interested in for years: ghost nets, or nets lost in water bodies that continue to catch fish. Ghost nets and general ghost gear, also referred to as abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), can impact target species and non-target species and contribute to microplastic distribution.

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My capstone is broken into a three main parts: an executive summary, the brief itself, and the infographic. The brief is broken into an additional three parts: background, incentivisation importance, and policy recommendations.

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This brief is an interdisplinary approach to science, incorporating policymaking and economics to tackle biological issues. I was able to get experience with one of the many fields that can utilize science communication, which led me to investigating other paths of discussing science to broader audiences.