Ghost Nets: The Oceans’ Silent Killers
Sharing the beauty and wonders of the ocean with our guests is what our tours are all about. We’re here to help them make lasting, positive memories of Hawaii’s vibrant reefs or inquisitive wildlife with the hope that those connections inspire love of these incredible beings and ecosystems. After all, in the words of Jacques Cousteau, “people protect what they love”.
It’s no secret that the health of our oceans is at risk due to a myriad of anthropogenic stressors. Some days these stressors are more apparent than others. The photos in this post were taken on one of our afternoon snorkels. Our crew noticed something odd floating about a foot beneath the surface, and upon investigation discovered a tangle of ghost nets. They were able to retrieve it and properly dispose of it back on land, but not before returning as much of the marine life that had made home on the net back to the sea as possible.
Ghost nets kill countless organisms every year, from fish to turtles to whales. The reality is, most fishing gear in the modern era is made from plastics that will take centuries to break down, meaning unless derelict gear is retrieved, it will continue quietly killing the species that bring so much life to our oceans.
Several frog fish were amongst the individuals found camouflaged amongst the weave.
Recently, Hawaii’s Division of Aquatic Resources partnered with local NGOs to set up a marine debris reporting hotline: (833)-4-Da-Nets. If you find marine debris in the waters or along the coastlines of the Hawaiian archipelago, call the marine debris hotline to alert officials. While this hotline is not strictly for ghost nets, much of the derelict fishing gear that is collected will make its way back to the Hawaii Pacific University’s Center for Marine Debris and Research, with the goal of determining the original source of said debris.
After returning to shore, the net our crew collected (estimated to have weighted 175lbs when wet) was brought to a designated ghost net drop-off site managed by Hawaii’s Department of Aquatic Resources. As boat operators, we understand we have an obligation to collect any pieces of derelict fishing gear we come across when safe to do so, both for the preservation of our marine ecosystems and for the safety of other boaters on the water.
If you encounter marine debris in Hawaii, please call (833)-4-Da-Nets.
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