After several years of mapping and an intensive removal effort, approximately 3.4 tonnes of abandoned fishing nets have now been recovered from the seabed in Øresund. The result marks an important milestone in our project Havets Spøgelser (Ghosts of the Sea), in which volunteer divers and professional commercial divers have worked together to locate and remove ghost nets.
In October, an important phase of the project was completed as commercial divers from Clean Seabed carried out the final ghost net removal operation in Øresund. In total, approximately 3.4 tonnes of nets and abandoned fishing gear have now been removed from several shipwrecks in the strait.
Tremoval operations are the result of a much longer effort, which began well before the professional diving vessel HBC Supporter arrived in Helsingør Harbour at the end of September.
From mapping to removal
Over the past couple of years, volunteer divers from local diving clubs have helped survey and map ghost nets in Øresund. Based on more than 160 reported locations, their efforts have provided the foundation for prioritising where the professional removal operations should take place.
The actual removal has been carried out by professional commercial divers, as freeing and recovering ghost nets from the seabed can be technically demanding and involve significant safety risks. The nets are often entangled on shipwrecks and other objects on the seabed, requiring specialised equipment and experience.
Throughout October, commercial divers from our member organisation Clean Seabed have been working on several shipwrecks in Øresund to free the nets and bring them to the surface. The operations have been shaped by the challenges associated with diving and recovering materials from the seabed. Weather, currents and technical conditions have all played an important role in determining where and when diving operations could safely take place.
With the final removal operation completed, approximately 3.4 tonnes of ghost nets have now been recovered from the seabed.
A joint effort for a cleaner Øresund
Ghost nets are lost or abandoned fishing nets that remain in the marine environment, where they can pose a threat to marine wildlife and contribute to microplastic pollution. Through Havets Spøgelser, Ocean Plastic Forum and our project partners aim not only to remove existing ghost nets but also to improve our understanding of the extent of the problem in Øresund.
The removal operations have also been documented through filming and photography on board HBC Supporter. The footage will form an important part of our upcoming documentary series, produced by UKENDT MEDIA, which follows Havets Spøgelser alongside six other nature restoration projects in Denmark. The series will highlight the state of Danish waters and the efforts being made to improve the marine environment.
Read more about Havets Spøgelser on our project page, where you can also explore more photos from the mapping and removal operations in Øresund.
