Toadfish (and other sea creatures), Michael Norman. Photo by the author. Reproduction authorized.
Abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) represents a global threat [en[encome tutti i link successivi]. Fishing nets, in particular, continue to entangle fish and other marine creatures (so-called “ghost fishing”).
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF):
It’s estimated that ghost gear makes up at least 10% of marine litter. This roughly translates to between 500,000 and 1 million tons of fishing gear abandoned in the ocean each year. Ghost gear impacts marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles, and more, and is the type of debris that has proven to be the most lethal.
Ghost gear is estimated to make up at least 10% of marine debris. This roughly translates to between 500,000 and 1 million tons of fishing gear abandoned in the ocean each year. Ghost gear impacts mammals, turtles and seabirds and more, and is the deadliest type of debris.
One of the highlights of Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) from 2024 was the Ghost Nets artwork on display. This art form uses abandoned fishing nets and other waste materials found on beaches.
Ghost Net Art CIAF 2024: Left: Ray – Sweetness, Florence Gutchen, 2024; right: Crayfish on the reef – Eric’s Home Reef, Jimmy John Thaiday, 2024. Images courtesy of CIAF. Reproduction authorized.
It is a growing art form since the early 2000s. Ghost Nets Australia was started in 2004 and is part of the programs of the Ocean Earth Foundation. Since then he has been encouraging solutions.
This video illustrates the scope of the problem and the work accomplished together with communities on the islands of Erub and Darnley in the Torres Strait:
The CIAF also organized a Ghost Nets workshop Masterclass with Lavinia Ketchell of Erub Arts, which was sold out.
Australian museums have widely exhibited works of art. The Australian National Maritime Museum has set up a collection as part of the show Au Karem Ira Lamar Lu – Ghost Nets of the Ocean. This timelapse video presents his installation in 2018:
L’Australian Museum of Sydney hosts sculptures made with ghost nets in its collection.
Ocean Earth Ghosts Nets Australia has been promoting the art of ghost nets for over 20 years. Their video, The Young Man and the Ghost Net, not only shows the first puppet show in the Torres Strait, but also illustrates how the nets are damaging the environment in that area:
It is not difficult to find materials for artwork. This abandoned crab net was spotted from the mangrove jetty near Cairns Airport in 2024:
Abandoned crab net in Cairns, July 2024. Photo by the author. Reproduction authorized.
Mylene Holroyd, from the Pormpuraaw Arts and Culture Centre, used a similar mesh in the following artwork, featured at CIAF 2024. It shows threadlike fins and salmon, local totems. The totem it is a natural object that has special meaning for individual indigenous peoples.
Sea turtle in the Ghost Web, Mylene Holroyd: photo by the author. Reproduction authorized.
This large sculpture, Nga’a Pinporro, was created by the Pormpuraaw Aboriginal community and is located in Barramundi Discovery Centre in Karumba, on the coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria:
Nga’a Pinporro – Barramundi Discovery Centre, Karumba Queensland. Photo by the author. Reproduction authorized.
There are projects in other countries that use ocean debris as art. Washed Ashore was founded in Oregon, USA, in 2010 by Angela Pozzi. He has created over 66 large sculptures like this one shown on Instagram:
Not only does ghost net art highlight the problem, it also helps financially support individual artists and their communities, as well as providing funding for initiatives to remove waste from the environment. The program Hunter Gatherer Network Oceans Art is an initiative that helps “indigenous female artists by providing equipment and training programs for the recovery, reuse and recycling of marine debris.” It is funded by Plastic Collective in collaboration with the Charles Sturt University (CSU). The organization had a stand at the CIAF Art Market:
Hunter Gather Network — Dr Anwaar Ulhaq (CSU), Lousie Hardman, Jeremy Sheehan (Hunter Gatherer Network) — al Cairns Indigenous Art Fair. Foto dell’autore. Riproduzione autorizzata.
The nets are found on the most remote beaches of Australia. Chilli Beach is located on the east coast of Cape York. Even 12 years ago, abandoned waste disfigured the coast and contributed to the spread of microplastics:
Numerous other efforts are being made to rid the oceans of fishing debris, particularly global initiatives such as the Ocean Conservancy. His program Trash Free Seas mobilizes volunteers, conducts research and public awareness campaigns. It also works proactively for prevention:
We prevent trash from entering the waters by working with everyone from individuals to businesses to change the products, practices and behaviors that lead to ocean trash.
We prevent waste from entering waters by working with everyone from individuals to companies to change the products, practices and behaviors that cause ocean pollution.
