Ghost Fishing UK volunteer clearing ghost nets (Picture: Ghost Fishing UK)
By Mark ‘Crowley’ Russell
Award-winning charity Ghost Fishing UK has introduced {that a} workforce of volunteer divers can be heading to Shetland in August for a week-long mission to assist the islands’ fishing group clear the waters of big, deserted gill nets.
Ghost Fishing UK is conducting the operation in response to experiences from Shetland’s fishermen, who’ve been protesting the discovering of the gill nets, that are alleged to have been used, then dumped, by overseas vessels. The fishermen have been pulling within the deserted gill nets – a few of them stuffed with rocks to weight them down – with their very own gear, leaving themselves confronted with the difficulties and prices of disposing of the illegally dumped nets.
Involved concerning the environmental influence of unmonitored landings, discarded gill nets and a rise in hurt to wildlife and unintended bycatch, the fishermen contacted Ghost Fishing UK trustee, Christine Grosart, to ask for help.
‘I used to be shocked to obtain some fairly harrowing photographs of huge gill nets, dumped at sea, energetic together with birds,’ stated Grosart. ‘Now we have monitor file of working in Orkney so figured Shetland shouldn’t be an issue for our workforce.’
Ghost Fishing UK has been working since 2015, coaching volunteers from across the UK to get better deserted, misplaced and discarded fishing gear, and recycle it wherever doable. The charity works with, not towards, the fishing group to sort out the issue, which has helped change the panorama of ocean conservation within the UK.
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Deserted gill nets catch far more than fish (left) and (proper) the dimensions of the large nets (Images: Fishing Ahead)
‘Since we received the Fishing Information Awards a few years in the past, attitudes have slowly been altering,’ stated Grosart. ‘It’s now not “us and them” in terms of divers, conservationists and fishermen. All of us need the identical factor; a wholesome, thriving ocean.
‘These giant gill nets are unfair, utterly unmonitored and never solely influence our fish shares for our personal fishery, however are inflicting havoc with our wildlife. Our fishermen simply don’t use them, so we’re certain they don’t seem to be native to our islands.’
Ghost Fishing UK can be in Shetland from 6 – 11 August aboard MV Valhalla, and is interesting for any info concerning ‘ghost gear’ recognized to be within the 35m depth vary. The charity can be searching for volunteers in Shetland to assist with sorting and cleansing the recovered ghost gear prepared for recycling again on the mainland. Any useable gear similar to creels can be given to the fishermen.
Arlene Robertson from the marketing campaign group Fishing Ahead, stated: ‘We’re appalled at what’s going on round Shetland/UK waters. We contacted and welcomed Ghost Fishing UK to Shetland to assist spotlight the reality.
‘Shetland fishermen have been gathering photographic proof of the tons of intentionally discarded fishing gear and home waste from foreign-owned fishing boats which is desperately dangerous for the surroundings and to wildlife.’
Ghost Fishing UK can be internet hosting a sold-out outreach night on Thursday, 10 August at Shetland Museum, Lerwick. ‘It’s a full home,’ stated Grosart. ‘We’re thrilled that we’re going to have a mixture of public, fishermen, divers and conservationists multi function place, working in direction of the identical factor. We’re internet hosting talks from Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary, Fishing Ahead UK and, after all, offering updates on the undertaking ourselves.
‘It’s going to be a groundbreaking night.’
Ghost Fishing UK has been crowdfunding to lift cash to cowl the price of the boat and gear and has virtually met its £20,000 goal. A number of native firms have provided help to the charity, together with Northlink Ferries and DFDS Haulage on Shetland.
You’ll be able to learn extra concerning the Sheltand undertaking on Ghost Fishing UK’s web site, and comply with the workforce’s progress on Fb @GhostFishingUK, Instagram @ghostfishinguk and Twitter @ghost_fishinguk.
