While traditional fishing gear is usually ideal for a region, improvements are always possible. Superior performance synthetic materials have almost universally replaced traditional fishing nets and lines. The development of unused resources, when present, may need gear and techniques previously unused by local fishermen. On the other hand, current fisheries need protection. Regulating net or trap mesh sizes, fishing techniques and seasons can safeguard the resources. Ghost fishing by lost or abandoned fishing gear can be avoided by the inclusion of biodegradable or sacrificial gear components. The most successfully introduced methods and gear are from areas with similar oceanographic, biological, social and economic structures. Imprudently introduced gear or methods would provide only temporary improvement in the fishermen's living conditions as it could accelerate stock depletion or upset social systems.