A Silent Killer in the Oceans
Every year, approximately 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear are abandoned, lost, or discarded into the ocean. Sadly, these fishing lines, ghost fishing nets, and traps don’t disappear. Once discarded overboard, they continue their deadly work for decades, sometimes centuries, without human oversight or benefit.
Ghost gear is one of the most common and devastating forms of marine pollution, contributing to the already estimated 19 million tonnes of ghost gear in the ocean. Unlike other marine debris that can sink to the bottom and remain there, ghost fishing nets actively trap, injure, and kill marine life. The nets drift with the ocean’s currents, get stuck on reef formations, and create death traps that can trap everything from juvenile fish to large cetaceans.
The good news is, the diving community can make a real difference! As a diver, you have unique access to these underwater killers and the skills to safely remove them. Globally, diving volunteers are taking on ghost gear removal, turning recreational dives into conservation missions like PADI’s Dive Against Debris that have a measurable impact on marine ecosystems.
What Are Ghost Nets?
Ghost nets are made from synthetic materials such as polypropylene, nylon, and monofilament lines. They are extremely durable, which becomes a curse when lost or discarded at sea.
Fishing gear becomes ghost gear when lost at sea during storms, abandoned when fishing vessels run into trouble, or the worst human act, deliberately discarded when the net becomes too damaged to repair. Once these nets are in the ocean, they usually end up floating on the surface or stuck on wreck sites, coral reefs, and the sea floor. All locations where marine life is most abundant and vulnerable.
The Environmental Impact of Ghost Fishing Gear
Threat to Marine Life
The most visible impact of ghost fishing nets is the entanglement of marine life. Dolphins, seals, whales, sharks, sea turtles, and birds are common victims of these silent killers. The nets often lead to slow and painful deaths from infected injuries, amputations from fishing lines, or starvation.
Destruction of Marine Habitats
When ghost fishing nets drift, they are like underwater bulldozers, destroying everything and anything in their path. Coral reefs that have taken years to grow can be shredded like paper in a single net dragged across them. Nursery habitats like seagrass beds are vital for many marine species. When abandoned ghost nets drift across a seagrass bed or benthic habitat, it disturbs and tears the sediment.
Ghost Fishing Phenomenon
The worst part about ghost gear is that it continues to trap and kill marine life long after abandonment. A single ghost net can trap thousands of fish and crustaceans in its lifetime, creating death traps that have no economic or ecological benefit. Fish entanglement also attracts predators, which then become trapped themselves, creating a deadly cycle.
Microplastic Pollution
As ghost gear ages and degrades over time, it releases microplastics (plastic smaller than 5 millimetres) into the ocean. These tiny plastics can enter the food chain at the lowest level and bioaccumulate as they move up the food chain in predators. This causes serious health implications for both marine life and human health.
The Role of Divers in Ghost Net Removal
Why Divers Are Critical Underwater Cleanup Crew
Divers are perfectly positioned to tackle most ghost gear problems. While surface clean-up crews can remove floating ghost gear, most sinks underwater, making it difficult to access. This is where divers come in – we can access these areas, assess the situation, and carefully remove the ghost gear with minimal environmental damage.
Dive Training & Safety Requirements
Ghost net removal requires proper training or experience like those offered with PADI Project Aware, Ghost Diving, Ghost Fishing UK, and SDI Ghostnet Recovery. Training is recommended as there are hazards associated with removal such as human entanglement, poor visibility from disturbed sediment, injury from sharp objects and edges, and the physical challenges with handling heavynets.
You will also need to learn how to use specialised equipment such as lift bags, SMBs (surface marker buoys), cutting tools, and protective gear. Before diving, teams must coordinate properly with clear communication protocols and assigned roles for each diver on the mission.
Team-Based Net Recovery Dives
Successful ghost gear removal requires a team effort. With careful planning, teams can carefully cut ghost nets into manageable pieces, check for trapped marine life, and carefully secure the net for low-impact removal. Larger nets may require multiple teams and specialised lifting equipment to transport them to the surface.
Post-Dive Protocols
Unfortunately, the hard work doesn’t end when the ghost gear reaches the surface. Responsible disposal or recycling of ghost nets is essential, and data collection helps scientists and oceanographers understand ghost gear patterns to develop better prevention strategies. You should record the location of the ghost gear, the type of net, the marine life affected, and anything else you feel is important to write down.
Global & Local Initiatives Combating Ghost Gear
In Malta, Heritage Malta’s Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit (UCHU) works with local dive centres to recover ghost fishing nets in the area.
The Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) is the world’s largest cross sectoral alliance combating ghost gear. The GGGI are supported by hundreds of members in the private sector, NGOs, academia, IGOs, and national governments.
Ghost Gear in Malta
Malta faces significant challenges due to its position in the Mediterranean Sea, surrounded by busy fishing activities. According to diver surveys submitted to Heritage Malta, divers have found ghost gear on historic wrecks in Malta’s waters. Divers have said that, in particular, the B24 Liberator Aircraft dive site has become a catchment area for ghost gear.
How Divers Can Get Involved
Ghost fishing gear continues to pose a threat to marine environments and marine life. If you see ghost gear during recreational dives, report it to the relevant authorities or organisations, or if safe, team up with experienced divers to remove it. We also offer an Eco Diving Course – a beginner-friendly, sustainability-focused program for divers and non-divers alike, offering hands-on challenges and marine conservation education
The ghost fishing net problem sadly won’t be solved overnight, but divers around the world are making a difference, one net at a time!
