Help Rid the World of Ghost Nets
Every day, fish and other sea life get caught in ghost nets, nets that keep fishing after being left behind. The animals do not die but they are stuck in the nets. These ghost nets are a threat to ocean life and ocean environment.
Ghost nets are a type of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) and they can also be dangerous for humans. For example, divers can get caught in them.
Over time, the nets break down into microplastics that pollute the oceans. The nets are being dragged down by pieces of lead, and it’s one of the biggest sources to lead pollution, as the metal is not otherwise used.
In Denmark professional fishers are legally obligated to report ghost nets on
the website of Fiskeristyrelsen/the Danish Fisheries Agency, but the site is difficult to find and the process is long and complicated which is why many do not report them.
In fact, only 18 nets have been reported in the last four years in Denmark. However, it is estimated that there are around 49,000 ghost nets and fragments of nets in the Danish seas.
Ghost nets are a huge problem all over the world. They pollute our oceans and kill sea animals. Eksperts say, this is not a problem to be taken lightly.
Ghost nets
We are Gifll, we are from Denmark. We are a team of six kids —four girls and two boys—and we’ve been researching ghost nets. Ghost nets are lost or abandoned fishing nets that stay in the ocean, trapping marine animals. Around 1 million tons of ghost nets end up in the ocean every year and it kills 100,000 marine animals. That’s like throwing 1 million cars into the sea! These nets trap fish, turtles, and other marine animals, leaving them unable to move or find food, eventually leading to their death. If this keeps happening, it will create a natural imbalance in the ocean’s life.
To solve this problem, we created an app named FLLOAT that helps locate ghost nets in ocean.
FLLOAT – The Ghost Net Tracking App
Our app makes it easy for people to report ghost nets when they see them.
Users can log in with an account or as a guest to report a ghost net.
They provide important details like the location, whether any animals are trapped, and upload a photo of the net.
The information is stored in our database and shared with ocean cleanup organizations.
Divers use the data to locate and remove the nets from the ocean.
This way, our app connects people who find ghost nets with the experts who can remove them.
Let’s Clean Our Oceans Together!
Our app helps clean up our oceans and save marine life. With the support of divers, ocean cleanup organizations, and people like you, we can make a real impact.
So let’s work together to remove ghost nets and protect marine life!