The scourge of 'ghost fishing': Divers plunge to depths of over 100ft to clear up abandoned nets and traps that kill sea life

  • Ghost fishing is what fishing gear does when it has been lost, dumped or abandoned and threatens sea life
  • Nets, long lines, fish traps or any man-made contraptions are affecting already depleted commercial fish stocks
  • Team of divers plunged to depths of 105ft to remove threats to fish around the shipwreck the M/V Portugal  

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These otherworldly images show divers combating the eco-scourge of 'ghost fishing'.

Ghost fishing is the term used for when fishing gear that has been lost, dumped or abandoned continues to kill sea life.

Nets, long lines, fish traps or any man-made contraptions designed to catch fish or marine organisms are considered capable of ghost fishing when unattended, and without anyone profiting from the catches, they are affecting already depleted commercial fish stocks.

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The divers took to the areas around an old shipwreck in Greece to clear up disused fishing nets and traps that pose a threat to fish - known as 'ghost fishing'

The divers took to the areas around an old shipwreck in Greece to clear up disused fishing nets and traps that pose a threat to fish - known as 'ghost fishing'

A discarded fishing net is lifted to the surface on a diving mission to remove 'ghost nets' from the wreck of the M/S Portugal in Greece

A discarded fishing net is lifted to the surface on a diving mission to remove 'ghost nets' from the wreck of the M/S Portugal in Greece

Ghost fishing is what fishing gear does when it has been lost, dumped or abandoned, and proves a serious threat to sea life

Ghost fishing is what fishing gear does when it has been lost, dumped or abandoned, and proves a serious threat to sea life

Caught fish die and in turn attract scavengers which will get caught in that same net, thus creating a vicious circle.

Scuba divers are also at danger from the issue, as they can get entangled in abandoned fishing gear.

Last month the Healthy Seas diving team of six divers, formed by Greek and Dutch volunteers, removed big ghost fishing nets on the Karystos Reef near Evia, Greece. They covered a huge area and the team made six dives in total at depths of up to 105ft.

A spokersperson for Healthy Seas said: 'Our divers worked hard and removed almost 75 per cent of all the nets on the reef and the wreck - the M/V Portugal - at that place. The reef is now liveable and safe again for its sea creatures.'

This diver cuts through a discarded fishing net
A discarded fishing net is lifted to the surface

The team made six dives in total at depths of up to 105ft to remove the nets and traps from the shipwreck

Caught fish die and in turn attract scavengers, which will get caught in that same net, thus creating a vicious circle

Caught fish die and in turn attract scavengers, which will get caught in that same net, thus creating a vicious circle

The Healthy Seas diving team of six divers, formed by Greek and Dutch volunteers, removed big ghost fishing nets on the Karystos Reef near Evia, Greece

The Healthy Seas diving team of six divers, formed by Greek and Dutch volunteers, removed big ghost fishing nets on the Karystos Reef near Evia, Greece

The Ghost Fishing Foundation has been collaborating worldwide with various local groups of technical divers and salvage companies to remove lost fishing gear

The Ghost Fishing Foundation has been collaborating worldwide with various local groups of technical divers and salvage companies to remove lost fishing gear

Non-profit organisation Ghost Fishing, a partner of Healthy Seas, explained: 'The fishing gear recovered is recycled as much as possible. 

'The main objective of this initiative is to remove waste, in particular fishing nets and other marine litter, from the seas for the purpose of recycling these into textile products.'

The Ghost Fishing Foundation has been collaborating worldwide with various local groups of technical divers and salvage companies to remove lost fishing gear. 

With projects in The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Croatia, Malta, United Kingdom and United States, they work on existing projects, set up new ones and document these through visual media, informing a wide audience and raising social awareness.

Caught fish die and in turn attract scavengers which will get caught in that same net, thus creating a vicious circle. Here two divers lift a giant net to the surface

Caught fish die and in turn attract scavengers which will get caught in that same net, thus creating a vicious circle. Here two divers lift a giant net to the surface

A discarded fishing net is lifted to the surface on a diving mission
A discarded fishing net is lifted to the surface on a diving mission

A discarded fishing net is lifted to the surface on a diving mission. Scuba divers are also at danger from the issue, as they can get entangled in abandoned fishing gear

 

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