Australia’s northern coastline is undergoing one of the worse environmental catastrophes on earth. Today, more than 200 ghost nets still make their way across the seas around the Groote Archipelago. The impact of abandoned fishing nets on the marine ecosystem is significant. Besides the direct harm and suffering they cause, these nets contribute to the needless deaths of thousands of endangered sea turtles and other bycatch. Further north in the Coral Sea, industrial fishing has grown dramatically since the 1990s. This maritime boom has led to a marked increase in lost or abandoned fishing gear.
The majority of ghost nets are not derived from Australian fisheries. In reality, it’s only one in ten nets that wash up on our shores that are local. Ocean currents pull massive amounts of abandoned fishing equipment from international waters into the Gulf of Carpentaria. It is there that these nets become trapped only to eventually wash up on the beaches. This growing tide of pollution has spurred countless citizens’ uproars and environmental advocates’ protests, demanding action to stop it.
Don’t count on those air quality cuts too soon—the stakes are high! Ghost nets were responsible for entangling a minimum of 4,866 to 14,600 sea turtles in the previous year according to 2014 studies. Dedicated local Indigenous rangers and volunteers have risen to this urgent threat. Often in just one day, their volunteers commonly pick up two tons of marine debris from Florida’s beaches!
The Impact of Ghost Nets on Marine Life
The impact of ghost nets is an alarming threat to our marine wildlife. In recent years, researchers and conservationists have documented the devastating impact these nets have on sea turtles and other aquatic creatures.
Kristen Sierke with South East Arnhem Sea Country ranger ghost net project coordinator. Her story really elevates how difficult it is to control this issue. Managing ghost nets is a daunting task, she says, illustrating the continuing plight to respond to the growing epidemic.
Ghost nets are a significant danger to a variety of species—not just endangered sea turtles. Conservationists have begun to refer to this phenomenon as “a wall of death.” Grahame Lloyd, an advocate for marine conservation, elaborates on this peril: “Once they’re at sea, they continue to float through the ocean, making a wall of death.”
Marine debris is accumulating along Australia’s northern beaches. Local communities have become rightfully concerned about the health and safety hazards associated with this environmental disaster. Local resident Clive Nunggarrgalu said he is concerned for his children’s safety. He dreads that they compete on toxic shores, strewn with squid jigs and the detritus of our failed healthcare system. He explains, “Our children, they enjoy it very much going out hunting spears, fish hooks. They go running with no shoes on. They could be injured in the foot or something, right?”
Community Cleanup Efforts
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, local Indigenous rangers and volunteers from organizations such as Sea Shepherd have mobilized to clean up their coastlines. The joint operation will focus on clearing ghost nets and other debris that endanger delicate marine life as well as the people who recreate on their state’s beautiful waters.
Joanne Pomery, a senior Aboriginal ranger, calls the pollution “devastating.” The level of waste here is three times as much as in city,” she explains. She paints a jarring picture of the difference between urban landscapes and distant coastal communities.
The Australian Government has provided funding to programs that help Indigenous ranger groups conduct cleanup operations. Concerns are mounting regarding future funding. Grahame Lloyd, who runs the ghost net program, cautions that it requires renewed support from the federal government. Without it, resources across the board will dry up. “If the federal government doesn’t renew the funding for the ghost net program, it’ll be the end for a lot of the resources and the tools for the rangers,” he explains.
Acting on these hurdles, a new crop of passionate staffers can go a long way. Despite this, they are able to clear monumental piles of debris every day. What they are exposed to in those communities is remarkable, not just for their age. They face the fierce competition from the Northern Territory sun and fight day in day out to take back their beaches.
The Broader Implications of Illegal Fishing
Beyond ghost nets, illegal fishing activities have compounded marine environmental concerns in Australia’s northern waters. Karen Edyvane has recently noted an increase in the number of Indonesian fishing vessels illegally operating within Australia’s exclusive economic zone. She highlights that the Gulf of Carpentaria is already feeling the pinch. The effectiveness of management efforts are dwarfed by the sheer number of both Indonesian fishermen and illegal fishers in the Arafura Sea.
The increase in illegal fishing and overfishing not only depletes vulnerable fish stocks but destroys vital marine ecosystems. This was often due to fishermen leaving their gear behind, increasing the threat of ghost nets. Edyvane believes we cannot address this challenge with more Zoom consultations and yearly workshops. Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing harms fishing communities and must be addressed through strong, direct action.
No one knows the detrimental effects of these practices better than local communities. Clive Nunggarrgalu urges for greater government support: “We want to get support from you guys and keep the ranger groups working.” His plea reflects a broader desire among residents to protect their coastal environment and ensure that future generations can enjoy safe and clean beaches.
