Ghost Nets Initiative
Abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear – often referred to as ‘ghost gear’ or ‘ghost nets’ – is one of the most damaging types of plastic pollution found in our oceans.
Ghost nets can be kilometres long and weigh up to several tonnes. Once lost or discarded, they can drift for hundreds of kilometres unchecked, causing injury or death to the many marine species that become entangled in them.
The Australian Government has launched the Ghost Nets Initiative to tackle the issue of ghost nets and plastic litter in the waters and beaches of northern Australia.
Latest news
Ghost Nets forum – sharing cultural knowledge
From 30 April to 2 May, more than 50 Indigenous rangers across 20 ranger groups came together in Gulkula, Northern Territory to discuss the environmental and social impact of marine debris and ghost nets in Australia’s northern beaches, coastal waters and communities.
Pilot study on ghost net recycling pathways in Gulf of Carpentaria now complete
A pilot study exploring recycling pathways for ghost nets in the Gulf of Carpentaria is now complete.
Grants to tackle ghost nets and marine debris in Australia’s north
Eleven new ghost net grant projects worth over $3 million are being funded by the Australian Government to help detect, remove or dispose of marine debris in northern Australia.
Grant round opens to stem ghost net tide
Australia’s northern coastline is a hotspot for marine debris and abandoned fishing nets known as ‘ghost nets’.
Ghost net impacts
The prevailing currents and conditions in the Arafura and Timor Seas and the Torres Strait cause marine debris to accumulate in the Gulf of Carpentaria, which is recognised as a global marine debris ‘hot spot’. Although this area is remote and sparsely populated, it has one of the highest rates of marine debris accumulation in Australia.
Numerous marine species are regularly entangled in derelict fishing gear, including four vulnerable or endangered marine turtle species found in Australian waters – olive ridley, hawksbill, green and flatback turtles.
Ghost nets that wash up or are left on beaches can re-enter the marine environment during large tidal and storm events. They also have the potential to disturb and displace coastal plant and animal communities, especially turtles and other nesting species. The materials that make up these ghost nets slowly deteriorate to eventually form microplastics, which can damage natural food webs and ecosystems.
What is happening under the Ghost Nets Initiative?
The Ghost Nets Initiative is being delivered by Parks Australia in partnership with government agencies, Indigenous organisations and other key stakeholders. Up to $14.8 million has been committed over four years to address the challenge of ghost nets and plastic litter in the waters and beaches of northern Australia, with a focus on the Gulf of Carpentaria. Projects under this initiative will help to improve the health of our oceans, reduce threats to our marine life and boost Indigenous employment.
Building on the efforts of Indigenous communities, environmental groups and private industry, the Ghost Nets Initiative is focused on the following activities:
- Delivering new technology and other projects to better detect, collect and dispose of ghost nets, including the $3 million Ghost Nets Innovative Solutions grant program.
- Working with Indigenous ranger groups to collect data on the source of ghost nets and coordinate retrievals and marine debris beach clean ups in the Gulf of Carpentaria, one of the nation’s hot spots for ghost nets drifting from foreign waters.
- Conducting new trials in collaboration with the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) and Maritime Border Command (MBC) - a multi-agency taskforce, within the Australian Border Force - to attach GPS tracking devices to ghost nets when an initial retrieval is not possible due to unsafe conditions. This will enhance our ability to continually track the nets while they are drifting and arrange for their immediate retrieval by an appropriate vessel.
Report a ghost net sighting
If you see a ghost net, please report it to Parks Australia by providing a position of the sighting and a description of the net, along with any photos to Marine.Compliance@dcceew.gov.au. You can also call the 24 hour marine compliance duty officer on 1800 852 975.
Contacts
Ghost Nets Taskforce
Marine and Island Parks Branch
GPO BOX 390, Canberra City, ACT, 2601
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Edgar Waite Building 203 Channel Highway
Kingston TAS 7050
Email: GhostNets@dcceew.gov.au
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