Dude, let me introduce myself before I begin my
gnarly rant. My name is Crush. I am best known for my role in Finding Nemo
but I am also an advisor for the United Nations Environment Program. I have been called here to better educate you
on the problem enveloping my home—the problem of Ghost Nets What are those you ask, well I would love to
inform you. Ghost
Nets are
abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear.
So there are lost nets and traps, but the ocean is pretty big and the
few lost items cannot make that big of a problem, right? No, dude that is
wrong. An increased scale of global
fishing has resulted in 6400 tons of marine litter from Ghost Nets alone. That’s 10% of all marine litter! You are
listening now, aren’t you? Let’s dive
into the problem so more. There are two
main culprits to the existence of Ghost Nets:
Bottom set gill nets are anchored to the sea floor and held up by
floatation devices on the ocean top.
Spanning a large range of the sea (600-1,000
meters) allows for an abundant amount of fish caught when used correctly,
but also means when they break loose the nets trap many marine species.
Traps and Pots are used
predominately for catching lobster and crab. These traps are set submerged in
the water and await the arrival of the crustaceans. The crabs and lobsters enter the trap, and
then as the name says, become locked in the contraption. Super effective in making sure my marine
friends do not escape but just as effective in capturing them when the traps
become lost and are no longer handled by humans. Some of my fellow marine friends call them
the Trap of Death, but don’t let that control your opinion. I am just here to offer an educated and
non-biased opinion since I do live among these environmental invasions.
I have tried to
understand how so many have become lost at sea, and I get it. The human population has increased, man, so
fishing has to increase. It is easier to
buy new nets for the fishermen than put in the energy and money to find lost
equipment. Technology has allowed for
easier and more efficient fishing. Good for the wallet, bad for the
environment. Instead of buying a new net, can you fishermen just get better
track of your nets and repair them? (Conspicuous
Waste).
Alright human
specimens, I want you to better understand what it is like for marine species
like me. Watch this video!
Ghost Nets are
deadly because of their small holes and the easiness it takes for them to
become tangled up with themselves. These nets restrict movement, causing
starvation, laceration, infection, and suffocation in those that need to
breathe at the surface. Dude, I have had many friends die from nasty infections
and even some of my turtle friends have had to have their limbs cut off! Not
only do these nets get caught on our bodies, but they even get caught on places
we marine life call our home. If caught on wrecks, nets can suffocate a wreck
and thereby render hiding place for marine life useless, or even trap them
inside. If my home is trapped, where am I supposed to live?
Not only does it harm our bodies and living quarters, but it also harms
the whole sea floor environment. When caught on a reef, Ghost Nets do not only catch
fish, turtles, crustaceans, birds, or marine mammals, they also destroy hard
and soft corals, wiping out complete ecosystems while swaying in the current.
Now that’s not cool, you hurt my friends and ruin the entire ecosystem!!!
There are a lot
of things already in the works to prevent these Ghost Nets from happening, but
you should take a little time to think of your own solution! Here are a few
ideas to get the ball rolling:
1.
Financial Incentives à Encourage
fishers to report lost or stolen gear and bring old and damaged gear to the
port. Give them a couple of bucks for their damaged/found gear may work!
2.
Mark Personal Gear à Marking your own gear will allow the identification of the gear. Since
some hear is left in order to catch fish over time, some nets are supposed to
be left alone. Making a universal system will help all fishermen.
3.
Improving disposal and recycling methods à Have ports provide safe disposal of material since no one wants to
take care of their own garbage
Now that you know
all about Ghost Nets, get out there and do something about it! These problems
in our environment will not end until someone puts their foot (or fin) down and says
enough is enough!!!
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