ABSTRACT Abandoned, Lost, and Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) is an increasingly recognized source of aquatic pollution, posing significant environmental, economic, and governance challenges in inland and transboundary fisheries. Despite growing global attention, governance responses in inland waters remain fragmented and poorly understood. This study presents a comparative review and analysis of ALDFG governance in two major transboundary fisheries, Lake Victoria in East Africa and the Laurentian Great Lakes. A systematic literature review and a comparative synthesis of evidence were conducted across five governance dimensions: (1) legal and policy frameworks, (2) data collection and reporting, (3) prevention and remediation mechanisms, (4) end‐of‐life fishing gear management, and (5) enforcement and compliance. The evidence analysis reveals substantial differences in governance capacity between the two regions. The Great Lakes benefit from well‐established binational institutions, regulatory frameworks, coordinated monitoring systems, and collaborative mitigation initiatives supported by government agencies, industry, and civil society. In contrast, Lake Victoria lacks a dedicated transboundary framework for ALDFG management, leading to fragmented legislation, inconsistent enforcement, limited reporting, and inadequate infrastructure for gear recovery, recycling, and disposal. However, a common governance gap persists across both fisheries: ALDFG is generally addressed only within the broader category of marine debris, with no legislation or policy explicitly targeting its prevention and management. The findings highlight the need to strengthen transboundary cooperation, standardize data collection and reporting, promote circular economy approaches, and develop dedicated ALDFG policies that integrate with broader inland fisheries governance frameworks, thereby enhancing environmental sustainability and fisheries resilience.
Ssempijja et al. (2026) studied this question.
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