Healthy Seas Completes Seven-Day Ghost Gear Recovery Mission Along Croatian Coast
Healthy Seas and Ghost Diving Adriatic have completed a seven-day mission along the Croatian coast, recovering abandoned fishing gear and working with local communities as part of a wider effort to tackle marine pollution.
The Adriatic 7 mission saw volunteer divers travel from harbour to harbour aboard a dive boat, carrying out underwater clean-ups and recovering ghost gear from the seabed.
The mission formed part of Healthy Seas’ ongoing work to remove abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear from the marine environment while raising awareness of the impact of marine litter.
Alongside the underwater recovery work, the team connected with local communities during the week, highlighting the importance of combining practical clean-up operations with education and awareness.
Healthy Seas works with diving organisations, volunteers, fishing communities, businesses and educators to address the problem of marine litter and ghost fishing gear. Recovered fishing nets can also be given a second life through recycling initiatives.
The Adriatic 7 mission was one of several activities highlighted in Healthy Seas’ latest update, which also features its work in ocean education and partnerships designed to raise awareness of marine pollution.
Among those featured is Christina Zantioti, an animal scientist and founder of SEADEA, who has worked with Healthy Seas for the past three years to bring marine litter, ghost farms and waste-management issues into universities and aquaculture events.
The organisation also highlighted employees from DWS who have become Healthy Seas Ambassadors, taking marine education into schools, communities and their workplaces through volunteering and awareness activities.
Healthy Seas is currently also running a limited Take Part Beneath the Surface campaign, allowing individuals to support its work through donations. Within the EU, supporters can receive symbolic items connected to the organisation’s clean-up and education activities, including products made from end-of-life diving lift bags.
Read the full Adriatic 7 report
Photo: Mariusz Czajka
