The Ghosts of the Sea project works toward a cleaner marine environment by removing ghost nets from the Marine Nature Reserve Øresund. Through mapping, retrieval, and recycling of abandoned fishing gear, the project highlights the fragility of our oceans and encourages action.

Alongside these efforts, the project will produce a documentary series and a continuous communication campaign, offering the public insight into the project’s progress and the dedication of those involved. It will also spotlight other marine restoration initiatives making a positive impact across Denmark – helping more people discover what is usually hidden beneath the surface.

The Ghosts of the Sea project is divided into two main components. The technical part focuses on the retrieval of ghost nets from the Øresund Strait, while the second part centers on communicating the project’s mission and raising awareness about marine restoration more broadly.

The technical track of the Ghosts of the Sea project focuses on identifying, removing, and recycling ghost nets in Øresund. The work begins with local diving clubs mapping shipwrecks and areas where nets are entangled. This knowledge forms the foundation for a safe and effective cleanup carried out by professional divers from Clean Seabed. These divers use specialized equipment and have the experience needed to remove the nets carefully and safely – without damaging shipwrecks or the surrounding marine environment.

Once the ghost nets are brought to the surface, they are analyzed and sorted to assess their recycling potential. Nets that can be reused are sent to Plastix in Lemvig, where the plastic is processed into new pellets that can later become new products. By doing this, we ensure that the waste is not only removed but also given new life through circular economy practices.

The technical track contributes to real, lasting improvements for the marine environment, not only by cleaning up the sea but also by demonstrating how lost fishing gear can be part of a more sustainable cycle.

Ghosts of the Sea is not just a hands-on cleanup initiative, it is equally a communication project aimed at raising awareness about the importance of our shared marine environment and shining a light on the efforts being made to restore it.

A central part of the project is the production of a documentary series called Havets Spøgelser, which takes viewers beneath the surface of the Øresund and along the coasts of Denmark. The series follows divers, scientists, and passionate individuals in their fight to remove ghost nets – the ocean’s hidden killers – and restore balance to our marine ecosystems.

The series highlights both the fragility and beauty of the sea, and how dedicated people are working to secure a better future for our waters. It’s a story of action, hope, and a deep love for the ocean.

Alongside the documentary, the project also produces short video clips, photos, and interviews as part of an ongoing awareness campaign on social media. You can follow the project on Instagram: @havets_spogelser.

Ocean Plastic Forum (OPF) is a non-profit association with around 35 members, including interest organizations, NGOs, universities, and a range of companies, all committed to reducing plastic pollution in the oceans by removing marine plastic and transforming it into new products. Through value chain collaboration and project-based partnerships, OPF brings together businesses, researchers, public authorities, and organizations with a shared goal: to clean up the world’s oceans and promote a circular economy for ocean plastic.

In the Ghosts of the Sea project, Ocean Plastic Forum serves as project lead and acts as the daily secretariat, supporting the project’s partners and collaborators.

Learn more at www.oceanplasticforum.dk

The Danish Sport Diving Federation (DSF) is Denmark’s largest organization for divers, with over 7,000 members across the country, represented by around 130 diving clubs – more than 30 of which have Øresund as their natural diving area. DSF is a special federation under the umbrella of the Danish Sports Confederation (DIF) and collaborates with a wide range of external partners, including international organizations, municipalities, museums, interest groups, local associations, and commercial partners.

DSF is a co-applicant in the Ghosts of the Sea project, and its primary role is to facilitate contact between the project and the local diving clubs.

Learn more at www.sportsdykning.dk

CleanSeabed is a team of professional divers affiliated with the leading Danish diving company Hyperbaric Consult, which primarily operates on offshore wind farms and oil rigs. At CleanSeabed, the focus is on cleaning our seas of abandoned fishing gear, with a special emphasis on ghost nets – often in difficult-to-access areas such as shipwrecks. CleanSeabed has experience retrieving ghost nets from wrecks in the Baltic Sea through the EU-funded project MARELITT, where they successfully recovered several tons of ghost nets.

Based on the mapping and documentation carried out by volunteer diving clubs, CleanSeabed is responsible for the actual retrieval of ghost nets from wrecks. Due to safety concerns, this task must be performed by certified commercial divers with the necessary skills and equipment.

Learn more at www.cleanseabed.org

UKENDT MEDIA is a Copenhagen-based production agency that creates compelling content and visual storytelling through a blend of technical expertise and creative insight – ensuring that messages are not just seen, but felt. UKENDT MEDIA collaborates with artists, brands, and businesses, and specializes in film production, still photography, sound design, graphic design, animation, and user experience design.

The agency is responsible for producing the Ghosts of the Sea documentary series, which follows the project and highlights the importance of our shared marine environment. In addition, UKENDT MEDIA contributes with creative input and materials for the project’s ongoing communication efforts.

Learn more at www.ukendtmedia.com

Gittemarie Johansen is a public speaker and author focused on consumer behavior and the green transition. Rooted in the zero waste movement, she also uses social media to address topics ranging from the textile industry and nature conservation to greenwashing and sustainable food systems. In 2020, she published Sustainable Badass, followed by Sustainable Gourmet in 2023. On YouTube, she shares both hands-on tips for reducing everyday impact and explainer videos offering deep dives into materials and products through her Impact Analysis series.

In the Ghosts of the Sea project, Gittemarie serves as communications and social media lead, helping to raise awareness about the initiative and shed light on the issue of ghost nets and the state of Denmark’s marine environment more broadly.

Learn more at www.gittemary.com