- Behind Sri Lanka’s battle against ghost nets and marine pollution
Sri Lanka is an island nation. As such, it is doubly important for us to protect our oceans. Marine conservation plays a crucial role in safeguarding the health and biodiversity of our oceans, which are facing a myriad of threats that endanger both marine life and human well-being.
The primary threats to marine life stem from pollution, overfishing, climate change, habitat destruction, and ecosystem degradation. Pollution, particularly plastic pollution, poses a significant risk to marine ecosystems, with plastic waste accounting for 85% of marine litter and causing harm to marine species through ingestion and entanglement. Chemical pollution from substances like oil, fertilisers, and pesticides further disrupts aquatic ecosystems, leading to developmental abnormalities and reduced fertility in marine life.
Additionally, a huge problem in Lankan seas is that of ghost nets. Ghost nets are abandoned or lost fishing gear (especially nets) that continue to drift in the ocean, posing a significant threat to marine life and contributing to the plastic pollution crisis. These discarded nets, lines, and traps can float for thousands of miles, entangling various sea creatures like fish, sea turtles, dolphins, and more. The heavier nets sink and cover the seabed, and especially when this happens near coral reefs, it greatly compromises the reef itself and its ecological function.
A champion in the fight against the impact of ghost nets off our coasts is the ‘Cleaner Seabeds for Sri Lanka’ initiative spearheaded by the volunteer-driven marine conservation group The Pearl Protectors. Cleaner Seabeds for Sri Lanka focuses on removing underwater marine litter and stranded fishing gear from the nation’s sea, particularly targeting sensitive marine ecosystems.
The project involves volunteer divers who are certified PADI Open Water Divers and above, with a maximum of 12 divers per cleaning session, operating at depths ranging from 9-18 m.
Four years after its establishment in 2020, Cleaner Seabeds for Sri Lanka recently achieved a milestone in its quest to advocate for cleaner marine environments with the launch of ‘We Will Not Give Up’ – a half-hour documentary directed by vlogger Hiran Daniel. The documentary, which was launched on 19 April, follows the Cleaner Seabeds crew on a diving expedition off the coast off Trincomalee, capturing the work of the crew and the very real impact ghost nets have on our local ecosystems.
‘We Will Not Give Up’ was powered by a coalition of organisations dedicated to driving marine conservation. Partners Lanka Environment Fund (LEF), Plasticcycle, and Depeche Mode contributed expertise, while patrons MAS Foundation and TASC Services offered crucial support. Island Scuba facilitated dives for the initiative as the Dive Partner, with Cleantech Ltd. supporting as Waste Management Partner and Dorsal Excursions contributing as Logistics Partner.
The very real danger of ghost nets
“Ghost nets represent a silent killer in our oceans,” The Pearl Protectors Coordinator and Cleaner Seabeds for Sri Lanka Lead Muditha Katuwawala said, emphasising that ghost nets, especially in the Sri Lankan context, were often nets which had been discarded or lost by fishermen close to coral reefs, which resulted in these being entangled on the corals themselves, perpetuating a cycle of destruction.
Entanglement of ghost nets can lead to physical injuries, suffocation, and death for marine animals. Additionally, ghost nets introduce more plastic into the ecosystem, exacerbating the plastic pollution problem and endangering ocean habitats.
The scale of the ghost net issue is substantial, with an estimated 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear lost or abandoned in the seas each year, accounting for nearly 10% of all ocean plastic pollution. Ghost nets are a global problem that requires immediate action to prevent further harm to marine ecosystems and the diverse species that inhabit them.
“As stewards of the ocean, it’s imperative that we confront this threat head-on and work towards sustainable solutions,” Katuwawala said, emphasising that Sri Lankans had a collective responsibility to address the issue. This responsibility was what led to The Pearl Protectors forming Cleaner Seabeds for Sri Lanka in 2020. The need for such an initiative is underscored by the alarming pollution levels in the Western Province, where a reported 80% of the seabed has been deemed polluted.
“Sri Lanka has a vibrant marine environment and coral reefs as habitats provide so much benefit to our marine environment. Reefs are where a lot of fish and marine life breed and regenerate,” Katuwawala explained. “When fishing nets and other plastic pollutants get stuck in these reefs, they essentially destroy marine life. They trap marine life, often killing them and damaging corals which affects future regeneration.”
While there are many issues in marine conservation that contribute to marine life being compromised, ghost nets, because of their proximity to and impact on coral reefs, pose a major risk. As such, reef environments should be better protected and conditions made optimal.
“Recent National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) reports say that 50% of shallow water marine life has depleted and one of the main reasons for this is the reefs being impacted by ghost nets and plastic pollution followed by overfishing and habitat loss because of climate change,” Katuwawala said.
He noted that overfishing and ghost nets were linked, because part of why fishermen fished so close to reefs (to the point where nets got entangled in them) was because these structures had such a high concentration of marine life, which meant their catch was likely to be more fruitful as opposed to fishing further offshore.
In its four years of diving, Cleaner Seabeds for Sri Lanka has worked to organise dives off Sri Lanka’s western, northwestern, and eastern coasts to remove ghost fishing nets from as many areas as possible and give the coral reefs covered by these nets room to breathe and regenerate.
On its expedition to the east coast last year, which was the one covered in ‘We Will Not Give Up,’ the Cleaner Seabeds crew removed close to 2,000 kg of waste from the reefs off Trincomalee, most of which was ghost nets.
‘We Will Not Give Up’
With the launch of ‘We Will Not Give Up,’ The Sunday Morning Brunch reached out to its Director, vlogger Hiran Daniel for his perspective on how he approached making a documentary on such an issue.
Daniel, a traveller with a penchant for adventure, found himself at a transformative juncture when he crossed paths with Cleaner Seabeds for Sri Lanka volunteer Rose during a camping event. After seeing her post about a diving expedition on social media, Daniel found his curiosity piqued.
“Normally, when we think about diving, it’s just to see the beauty below,” Daniel recalled. “But when I saw Rose bringing stuff out, collecting garbage, etc., I was intrigued to know more. I found out about The Pearl Protectors on Instagram and saw the work they were doing with beach cleanups and building awareness on cleaner seabeds and marine conservation.”
For Daniel, who had up until this point only made short-form documentaries, the allure of what would become ‘We Will Not Give Up’ lay not in mere documentation but in catalysing change.
“I was always looking for a good subject. I’m not interested in making documentaries for the sake of it, but to do something impactful,” he explained, and so, collaborating with The Pearl Protectors, Daniel embarked on a two-day journey, immersing himself in its mission and capturing the essence of its work on a Cleaner Seabeds for Sri Lanka diving expedition.
Of course, there were limitations. Diving is an extreme sport, and the divers of Cleaner Seabeds were exhaustively trained in diving itself and how to remove and collect waste underwater. Experience with diving was not something Daniel had, so he embraced his role as a filmmaker, directing the team diving under the surface to capture poignant moments and convey the gravity of the issue.
He recalled: “Diving was an issue for me – I don’t have a diving licence or skill/knowledge. But the divers already had GoPros and were documenting their dives and doing small videography jobs, so what I did was direct them on the kinds of shots to take and how best to capture the issue of ghost nets visually.”
As the documentary took shape, Daniel faced numerous challenges, from securing permissions for drone footage to balancing personal struggles. Yet, his unwavering determination to shed light on the plight of our oceans propelled him forward.
He reflected: “My big vision was to have a nice story going from beginning to end, and not to just dump information but to look at it as a small film.” This informed Daniel’s process in formulating questions for speakers in order to provide a comprehensive look at the issue of ghost nets.
In a message to the public, Daniel emphasised on the need for widespread awareness and action. “I too was an outsider to this issue. I had no idea about the severity of it. There are many people like me out there. There has to be some sort of information going to the public,” he said.
“If members of the public – especially along the sea area – know and understand that the issues of ghost fishing nets and garbage are mostly due to them, and they can understand just how serious it is, then they too can help.
“One of the speakers in the documentary said that at the end of the day, we’re only causing harm to ourselves by discarding our fishing gear so close to our reefs and damaging the sea, and that is completely true. We have to take action; all of us.”
We all have a role to play
Exploring the power of individual action, Brunch chatted to some of Cleaner Seabeds for Sri Lanka’s volunteer divers for their perspectives on being part of a small movement driving change in our oceans.
Cleaner Seabeds for Sri Lanka volunteer diver Mithma De Silva originally got her licence to dive through The Pearl Protectors in 2021 and has been a lifelong swimmer. Reflecting on her experiences underwater, De Silva admitted to moments of despair upon encountering trash littering the ocean floor.
“In the beginning, whenever we went down and saw the trash there, it was always a pretty hopeless feeling,” she said. However, being able to make a tangible impact even on a small area makes all the difference. “We can remove a lot of ghost nets and have even been able to save entire reefs.”
One memorable dive stands out in De Silva’s mind – a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of ghost nets. “We came across a net full of fish that were already caught and a lot of them had already died,” she recalled, lamenting the tragic fate of the trapped creatures.
For De Silva, every encounter with single-use plastic serves as a sobering reminder of humanity’s impact on the ocean. “Whenever I come across a piece of single-use plastic in the ocean, I always wonder who might have used it,” she mused. This introspection drives her to make conscious decisions to reduce her plastic footprint, recognising the importance of individual actions in preserving marine ecosystems.
German dive instructor and Cleaner Seabeds for Sri Lanka volunteer Emily Berlage, who served as lead diver and technical instructor, spoke about her experiences leading the dives documented in ‘We Will Not Give Up’. Berlage’s journey with The Pearl Protectors began in 2022 when she volunteered remotely from Germany, contributing to research efforts. Her return to Sri Lanka in 2023 marked a deeper commitment to the cause.
Reflecting on her first dive off Trincomalee, Berlage recalled the shock of encountering reefs overwhelmed by ghost nets. “I couldn't see the reef; it was horrible,” she shared, underscoring the severity of the issue.
Offering advice to aspiring volunteers, Berlage stressed on the importance of diving experience and safety. “Cleaning the seabed is very difficult,” she cautioned, urging divers to hone their skills before participating. Emphasising on the risks involved, she advocated for proper training and cautioned against solo dives.
Sharing a message with the public, Berlage underscored the urgent need to address ghost nets and their detrimental impact on coral reefs. “By not addressing the issue, we’re really hurting ourselves,” she warned, advocating for collaboration between fishing communities and marine conservation efforts.
‘We Will Not Give Up’ can be viewed on The Pearl Protectors’ YouTube channel