herein we describe fishing gear having a degradable identification component comprising a polyhydroxyalkanoate polymer , as well as methods for ensuring that such identification component degrades quickly after detachment . aquatic debris has a negative economic and ecological impact , and thus it is advantageous to use implements that will degrade into environmentally benign compounds . incorporating a degradable identification component into fishing gear provides an effective , economical solution . suitable degradable identification components are described herein .