Cleanup

Cleanup in the sea – ghost stones

Cleanup of ghost stones has become a necessary task along the entire coast. What was once easy to find is now often hidden on the seabed – made of materials that do not decompose and can continue to fish for a very long time.

Why cleanup is necessary

Ghost gear that remains:

• Catching lobster, crab, and fish unattended
• Reduces local populations over time
• Contributes to marine litter and plastic in the ocean
• Creates hazards for other fishing gear and navigation

How cleanup is conducted

• Organized cleanup actions by fishermen, municipalities, and volunteers
• Use of trawls and hooks to retrieve gear from the seabed
• in coastal and shallow areas
• Mapping of loss zones where gear often disappears

The work is heavy, time-consuming, and dependent on good weather.

Challenges with cleanup

Even with great effort, cleanup is demanding:

• Many traps are completely or partially buried in the bottom
• Ropes and buoys are often missing
• Large areas must be searched systematically
• Costs are high, and resources are limited

Often, a ghost trap can cause significant damage before it is found.

Limited effect without prevention

Cleanup alone does not solve the problem:

• New traps are lost every year
• The same areas must be cleared again
• The effort becomes continuous instead of preventive

Therefore, cleanup is a necessary but insufficient measure on its own.

The way forward

The most effective strategy is to combine:

• Prevention of loss
• Planned recovery of equipment
• Targeted cleanup where loss has already occurred

When fewer traps are left on the seabed, the need for cleanup over time is reduced.

Cleanup in the sea ultimately comes down to rectifying damage. The best solution is to prevent the damage from occurring in the first place