Ghost nets turned into volleyball nets

Abandoned fishing nets recovered from the seabed by volunteer dive teams are re-woven into beach volleyball nets and donated to coastal facilities and schools.

How it was done

1. 01MappingGhost net locations were mapped from reports by fishers and dive clubs.
2. 02RecoveryVolunteer dive teams removed the nets safely in the off-season.
3. 03RemakingNets were cleaned, sorted and re-woven into volleyball nets at a textile workshop.

Results achieved

• Ghost nets were removed from three bays in the first season.
• The finished nets were donated to schools and facilities in coastal districts.
• The programme features as a case study in the company's sustainability report.

Measurable outputs

Climate relevance

Removing ghost gear relieves pressure on seabed habitats and stops continued ghost fishing, supporting the recovery of coastal ecosystems that hold carbon. Re-weaving the recovered nylon avoids the emissions of producing new netting material.

Conditions for replication

Needs volunteer dive teams experienced in safe cutting and lifting, reports from fishers to locate the gear, and a textile workshop willing to take cleaned nylon. An off-season working window and a receiving institution for the finished nets are also required.

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