Deadly ocean trash - The impact of ghost nets | DW Documentary

Summary

The video explores the issue of 'ghost nets'—abandoned fishing gear that continues to trap and kill marine life, causing severe environmental damage. Divers, environmental organizations, and companies like Bracenet work tirelessly to recover these dangerous nets from the sea, with efforts focused in regions like the Baltic Sea and North Sea. While organizations depend on donations and volunteer efforts, larger-scale solutions like technological innovations and policy changes are essential. The video highlights the urgent need for global action to prevent ghost nets, protect marine ecosystems, and reduce plastic waste in the oceans.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ghost nets, abandoned fishing gear, continue to kill marine life for decades after they are discarded, causing significant harm to ocean ecosystems.
• 😀 It’s estimated that up to 10,000 ghost nets wash ashore each year in the Baltic Sea alone, and globally, an estimated 1 million tons of new ghost nets enter the oceans annually.
• 😀 Ghost nets contribute to the deaths of over 130,000 whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions every year, along with millions of fish, turtles, and birds.
• 😀 These nets not only harm marine life but also break down into microplastics, entering the food chain and eventually affecting human health.
• 😀 Divers, environmental NGOs, and organizations like GRD (German Dolphin Rescue) are actively involved in recovering ghost nets from the sea, often at their own risk.
• 😀 Salvaging ghost nets is a dangerous, time-consuming task that requires specialized equipment and trained divers. Poor visibility and difficult conditions complicate recovery efforts.
• 😀 The fishing industry is partly responsible for the ghost net problem, as lost gear is often not reported, and cheaper nets like gill nets are more likely to be abandoned.
• 😀 Technology like the PingMe tracking system, tested in Norway, offers a potential solution for locating lost fishing gear quickly, reducing the impact on marine life and saving time for fishermen.
• 😀 Some companies, like Bracenet, are turning recovered ghost nets into consumer products like keychains and bracelets, helping raise awareness while also contributing to net recycling efforts.
• 😀 The recycling of ghost nets is difficult due to the variety of materials used, and large-scale recycling is currently not economical. Some nets can only be incinerated for energy recovery.
• 😀 Governments and the fishing industry must play a larger role in addressing the ghost net problem by implementing regulations and encouraging more sustainable practices to prevent nets from being lost in the first place.

Q & A

What are ghost nets, and why are they a problem?

Ghost nets are abandoned or lost fishing nets that continue to trap and kill marine life. They are made of durable plastic materials, which can persist in the ocean for hundreds of years, leading to environmental pollution and causing harm to marine animals that become entangled in them.

How do ghost nets contribute to the decline of marine species?

Ghost nets contribute to the decline of marine species by entangling and killing various animals, including whales, dolphins, seals, turtles, and fish. These nets remain in the ocean long after being discarded, continuing to capture marine creatures that cannot escape, leading to agonizing deaths.

What is the impact of ghost nets on ecosystems beyond marine life?

Beyond harming marine life, ghost nets contribute to plastic pollution in the oceans. Over time, these nets break down into microplastics, which travel through the food chain, potentially affecting human health as well as smaller organisms vital to marine ecosystems.

What is the GRD, and what role do they play in tackling the ghost net issue?

The GRD (German Dolphin Rescue Group) is an environmental NGO that conducts underwater salvage operations to recover ghost nets from the Baltic Sea. They work with experienced divers to locate and remove these nets, reducing the impact on marine life and raising awareness of the ghost net problem.

What challenges do divers face when recovering ghost nets?

Divers face several challenges when recovering ghost nets, including poor visibility in the water, the difficulty of freeing nets that are entangled with wrecks or obstacles, and the danger of getting entangled themselves. Additionally, the recovery process can be physically demanding and requires specialized equipment like buoyancy bags to lift the nets.

How long can it take for ghost nets to decompose, and what is the composition of these nets?

Ghost nets can take anywhere from 200 to 600 years to decompose due to their durable plastic composition, often made of materials like polyamide. These nets are extremely robust and resist natural breakdown, causing long-term environmental harm.

What is the role of companies like Bracenet in addressing the ghost net problem?

Bracenet is a company that transforms salvaged ghost nets into products like keychains, dog leashes, and bracelets. They source their materials from divers, NGOs, and fishermen, and their business model helps raise awareness about ghost nets while also contributing to their recovery and repurposing.

What are the limitations of recycling ghost nets on a large scale?

Recycling ghost nets on a large scale is challenging because the nets are often made from mixed plastic types and may contain lead lines to make them sink. Separating these materials by hand for recycling is a labor-intensive process, and large-scale recycling efforts are currently not economically viable.

What technological solutions are being explored to prevent ghost nets from being created?

Researchers are exploring biodegradable fishing nets that can dissolve over time in seawater without leaving harmful residues. Additionally, systems like the 'PingMe' tracking device are being developed to help locate and recover lost fishing gear quickly, reducing the amount of ghost nets entering the ocean.

What role should governments play in solving the ghost net problem?

Governments should take an active role in managing and preventing the loss of fishing gear by implementing regulations that require fishing nets to be reported if lost and by providing funding for recovery operations. Some regions, like the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, have already begun pilot projects to address the issue, but more widespread governmental action is needed.