Ban The Use Of Synthetic Nets In Commercial Fishing in U.S. Waters

This petition requests that the use of synthetic nets by the commercial fishing industry be banned in United States territorial waters. Synthetic fishing nets are estimated to take hundreds of years to disintegrate. Typically when large commercial fishing nets get snagged on something at sea, commercial fishermen simply cut them loose and let them sink. While these nets last, fish and sea mammals become snagged in them where they die a slow death or swim around with them constricting parts of their bodies and eventually killing them. A return to the use of hemp nets would prevent this as they deteriorate more quickly. The greater cost of hemp nets will be offset by a reduction in fish populations killed by synthetic nets. This will result in healthier oceans and fisheries.