Ghost nets threatening Corfu seas
29 May 2020
/ 18:44
CORFU. Abandoned fishing nets in the sea - known as - ΄ghost nets΄ - are considered to be deadly sea waste and a significant threat to the global environment.
Scientists estimate that 640,000 tons of fishing gear are lost in seas and oceans every year. These nets are not biodegradable and remain in the sea for hundreds of years destroying the marine ecosystem, trapping millions of marine creatures such as sharks, dolphins, seals and turtles.
There are also ghost nets in the Corfu seas as Christos Simatis, a diving enthusiast who collects all the nets he finds, explains in his video. The nets are a constant menace to sea organisms, adversely affect the substrate and are also a danger to bathers, divers and boats.
In order not to create danger for other boats, fishermen, when repairing their nets, should not throw the damaged sections into the sea as this can cause serious damage to other vessels.
There are several companies who take these netsand work with fishermen to collect nets that are not being used or have been abandoned and send them to be recycled as part of the circular economy.
In this way, these ghost nets can have a second life as ... swimming costumes, socks or even rugs!
There are also ghost nets in the Corfu seas as Christos Simatis, a diving enthusiast who collects all the nets he finds, explains in his video. The nets are a constant menace to sea organisms, adversely affect the substrate and are also a danger to bathers, divers and boats.
In order not to create danger for other boats, fishermen, when repairing their nets, should not throw the damaged sections into the sea as this can cause serious damage to other vessels.
There are several companies who take these netsand work with fishermen to collect nets that are not being used or have been abandoned and send them to be recycled as part of the circular economy.
In this way, these ghost nets can have a second life as ... swimming costumes, socks or even rugs!
