"Ghost fishing" is the phenomenon—one happening just a few hours from New York City—where neglected fishing gear indiscriminately traps and kills marine life. This is happening just a few hours from New York City. Long Island Sound’s once-thriving lobster industry has been facing a rapid decline since the late 1990s due to the area’s shrinking lobster population. The cause of the die off is unknown, though a few blame climate change. As a result of the industry’s decline, the bottom of the Long Island Sound has accumulated tons of derelict metal lobster traps, polluting and trapping what remains of its lobster population. Unused traps are also headed to landfills. The pavilion, made entirely out of discarded lobster traps, makes the problem of ghost fishing visible to the public, while inviting users to question what has happened to the Long Island Sound’s lobster population. After deinstallation, traps will be repurposed as outdoor furniture.
Project facts
Location New York, NY
Designer Suemin Jeon
Year 2019
Category Installation & Exhibition
AIANY Recognition
2019 City of Dreams Pavilion