International requirements on fishing gear marking and reporting

We welcome your views on the marking of fishing gear and reporting of lost or discharged fishing gear, to help Australia shape new international requirements.

As part of efforts to reduce the amount of plastic litter entering oceans from vessels, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is introducing mandatory international requirements on the marking of fishing gear and expanding existing reporting requirements for lost and discharged fishing gear. 

Work is now underway to develop the details of these global requirements. To inform this work, we are seeking your views and advice on two main issues: 

• the mandatory marking of fishing gear, and 
• reporting of lost and discharged fishing gear.