Mr. Speaker, it is an honour today to table a petition on behalf of Vancouver Islanders who are deeply upset and concerned about the cutting of the world-class ghost gear fund. They cite that ghost gear is abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear that is among the deadliest sources of plastic pollution.
The petitioners note that ghost gear kills fish, marine mammals, seabirds and turtles; damages habitats; and creates microplastics and even hazards for navigation and active harvesters, hurting coastal economies. They point out that dedicated funding for retrieval, prevention, repair and recycling works, creating skilled jobs and partnerships with indigenous communities, small businesses, fishers, harbour authorities and recyclers, especially in rural and remote regions.
Petitioners are asking for the ghost gear fund, which helps protect coastal communities and our oceans, to be reinstated.