In 1989, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) agreed a resolution to establish an international moratorium from 1992 on the use of driftnets on the high seas. It was the first worldwide measure adopted against a specific fishing technique. As a result of this decision, several governments established laws to comply with the UNGA mandate. In the European Union (EU), a regulation came into effect, ten years later, which attempted to eliminate the use of driftnets by the EU fleet.

Today, driftnets are still being used around the world, constituting a serious threat for the conservation of cetaceans, elasmobranchs, sea turtles and marine birds, as well as calling into question the effectiveness of fisheries management measures. Since it was established, Oceana has been working towards the elimination of this illegal fishing gear from the Mediterranean, annually updating information about these fleets collected during campaigns carried out in the field.