Clean-up of ghost nets in Øresund

Ocean Plastic Forum will, in collaboration with Dansk Sportsdykker Forbund and Clean Seabed, register and collect ghost nets in the marine nature reserve Øresund.

The overall aim of the project “Under The Surface – Collection of ghost nets in the marine nature reserve Øresund” is to improve the marine environment and raise awareness of the issues under the surface. The collected nets will be part of a circular process where the recyclable material will be used in new products.

Problem

Derelict fishing gear, also known as ghost nets, pose a significant threat to nature, marine life and humans. Plastic pollution in one of the most widespread sources of pollution, both along the coasts and in the ocean, where it breaks into microplastic and enters the food chain. Lost and abandoned fishing nets are a major contribution to this source of plastic pollution.

The name ghost nets comes from the fact that these nets continue to “fish” as they drift around in the ocean, lie on the seabed, og get caught on shipwrecks. They pose as danger to everything from seabirds that can get trapped in nets floating on the surface, to marine life that can become entangled in those drifting below. The nets also pose a threat to divers who use the wrecks as popular diving sites, as they rish gettings caught in the nets. There is also a possibility of the nets becoming entangled in propellers, potentially causing damage to smaller boats.

Perspectives

We will collect and recycle ghost nets from the Danish marine nature reserves and gain experience that can subsequently be applied to benefit efforts in other Danish waters. Additionally, the projects aims to highlight the importance of the ocean and the challenges under the surface.

Project description

Similar to land-based national parks, marine nature reserves should be areas free from waste. It is based on this fundamental idea that Ocean Plastic Forum, in collaboration with our members, and the help of voluntary efforts, will collect ghost nets and other abandoned fishing gear from one of Denmark’s newly designated marine nature reserves. Øresund is one of the two marine nature reserves that the Danish Parliament decided to establish in 2021.

Alongside the technical cleanup work, the documentation of the work will take place. This is an equally important part of the project, as the goal is to raise public awareness about the need for restoration and protection of the marine environment. Additionally, it is the ambition to process and recycle as much of the material as possible. This is done to contribute to the necessary transition into a more circular economy, in which a healthy marine environment depends on our ability to collect and recycle resources.

Before the mapping and collection of ghost nets can begin, it is crucial to gather existing knowledge about, among other things, current mapping of shipwrecks in Øresund and other similar restoration projects across the country. The actual mapping of the nets will be carried out in close collaboration with Dansk Sportsdykker Forbund and a large number of volunteers from their diving clubs. By applying best practices from projects suchs as the MARELITT Baltic project, the collection of nets will be carried out by our member Clean Seabed, who has many years of experience in this field. The processing and recycling of the collected nets will be handled by another one of our members, Plastix. The communication efforts, including a planned documentary series, will be created in close collaboration with Ukendt Media, ORDogLYD and author and public speaker Gittemarie Johansen.

The project is supported by, among others, Den A.P. Møllerske Støttefond. The current budget is DKK 5.750.000.

Partners

The project includes the following partners:

Our members and sponsors

Ocean Plastic Forum is a association of 40 members, consisting of interest groups, NGO´s, universities and a number of companies, who all share the same concern about plastic pollution in our oceans. Our member are our biggest asset in bringing our vision of clean oceans to life.