Tuna boats must now use biodegradable fishing gear in the Eastern Pacific

Rules for tuna fishing gear in the Eastern Pacific just got tighter. Fishing boats must now use gear made from biodegradable materials and track how they dispose of it.

Tuna fishing boats used floating devices that entangled marine life and added plastic to the ocean. This rule forces them to switch to gear that breaks down naturally and is less harmful. It means less plastic pollution and fewer accidental deaths for sharks, turtles, and other ocean animals caught in old fishing gear.