Polymer Identification of Floating Derelict Fishing Gear from O'ahu, Hawaiʻi

Published

September 28, 2023

Author(s)

Raquel Corniuk, Katherine Shaw, Andrew McWhirter, Harry Lynch, Sarah-Jeanne Royer, Jennifer Lynch

Abstract

Discarded fishing gear (DFG) comprises most of the plastic in the North Pacific Ocean and causes environmental and economic losses. Building evidence on the material construction of fishing gear types is critical to develop solutions to reduce DFG amounts and impacts. We forensically assessed the construction and chemical composition of eight different gear types removed as DFG around O'ahu, Hawai'i. A thorough dissection and novel analysis was conducted including the documentation of gear constructions, polymer identification using attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry, and elemental additive detection using X-ray fluorescence. Twenty-six different polymers were identified, and most gear consisted of polyethylene variants or blends. This inventory of physical and chemical characterization of DFG can help future polymer identification of particular gear types through visual techniques. Additionally, it can aid in identifying sources of these gear types and promote recycling options.

Citation

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Volume

196

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115570

Local Download

Keywords

derelict fishing gear, marine debris, plastic pollution, polymer identification, characterization

Citation

Corniuk, R. , Shaw, K. , McWhirter, A. , Lynch, H. , Royer, S. and Lynch, J. (2023), Polymer Identification of Floating Derelict Fishing Gear from O'ahu, Hawaiʻi, Marine Pollution Bulletin, [online], https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115570, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=936921 (Accessed October 12, 2025)