Australia Joins the GGGI

Australia has joined the GGGI, becoming the 24th country to officially do so. In her closing address to the Global Nature Positive Summit, Australia’s Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek, announced that Australia has joined the GGGI. The Australian government also announced that it will be investing $1.4 million (AUD) toward regional action on ghost nets in the Arafura and Timor Seas. Minister Plibersek’s closing address to the Global Nature Positive Summit where she makes this announcement is available HERE.

“Ghost gear is the deadliest form of marine debris and a critical part of solving the ocean plastics pollution crisis. We are thrilled that Australia has joined the Global Ghost Gear Initiative and is proactively supporting neighboring countries in the Asia Pacific to address ghost gear. This is particularly timely as we prepare for the final round of plastics treaty negotiations taking place next month in Busan, South Korea, where we have been working with Member States to include specific provisions to prevent and mitigate the impacts of plastic fishing and aquaculture gear.”

- Hannah Pragnell-Raasch, GGGI Policy Specialist

As a GGGI member, Australia will work closely with GGGI to take regional action with the aim of preventing and mitigating the impacts of ghost gear. Additionally, Australia has been supporting a range of global efforts to tackle ghost gear such as the inclusion of ghost gear measures in the UN plastics treaty, among others.

The 23 other member countries of the GGGI include Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Germany, Iceland, Mexico, Montserrat, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, Samoa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, United States, and Vanuatu.