SUMMARY

Abandoned fishing gear, often called "ghost gear," is breaking down in our oceans and adding to the problems brought by plastics and microplastics. But there was a recent effort to get the United Nations to enforce tougher regulations, and a coalition announced new funding to remove some debris in the Gulf of Maine. Science correspondent Miles O'Brien reports.

For a transcript of this story, click here.

News wrap alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM UP QUESTIONS

1. Who are some of the individuals and groups featured in this story?
2. What are the causes of the "ghost gear" onslaught?
3. Why is abandoned fishing gear a problem for marine life? What about how the traps themselves are made?
4. Where is the Gulf of Maine? (see map here or zoom out from this map)
5. How are environmental groups addressing the problem?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

How seriously do you think government and industry leaders should be taking the ghost gear problem? What about the larger plastic problem affecting the earth? How seriously do you take it, and what do you think should be done about it?

Media Literacy: Learn about the water systems near you! Research newspapers and online news outlets in your city and state (start here if you're not sure) to learn more about the plastic pollution problem and potential solutions. Type in general words first such as "pollution," and then more specific search terms such as "plastic," "fishing" and "wildlife"). What did you find? Were you surprised?

Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What story would you want to find out more about? Where would you go to learn more?

FOR MORE

What students can do: In the piece, Miles O'Brien asks: "What's the big solution, in your view?" Caitlin Townsend of Net Your Problem responds: "In my view, it would be to have [a recycling] operation like this in every major fishing port in the United States."

Take a look at either of these two lesson and see what inventive solutions you can come up with. Share your solutions with a classmate or the entire class.

Click here to view lesson.

Click here to view lesson.

Fill out this form to share your thoughts on Classroom’s resources. Sign up for NewsHour Classroom’s ready-to-go Daily News Lessons delivered to your inbox each morning.