The allure of the ocean is undeniable, however, alongside its breathtaking beauty, our oceans face a silent menace: ghost nets. 

Our Ghost Net 1000 Campaign is a bold initiative aimed at removing one tonne (1000kg) of ghost nets from our shores by the end of the year. Ideally, we wish to reach the half tonne goal this Summer, utilising the sunnier days for longer hunting trips! But we're not stopping there. Our mission extends beyond mere cleanup; we are committed to recycling or repurposing the recovered nets, giving them new life and purpose.

Our efforts to remove ghost nets from the shore align with our commitment to our charity partner, Neptune’s Pirates, which advocates for non-violent direct action in ocean preservation.

Ghost nets are abandoned or lost fishing nets, and pose a significant threat to marine life and coastal ecosystems. They continue to trap and entangle marine animals while drifting with ocean currents, wreaking havoc on delicate underwater habitats. 

We've discovered locally washed-up marine animals tragically entangled in these nets, serving as a poignant reminder of the dire consequences. It's estimated that ghost nets contribute to almost 10% of all ocean plastic pollution, and according to a 2018 study in Scientific Reports, ghost nets make up at least 46 percent of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

We all share the responsibility of safeguarding the ocean, a precious resource that enriches and sustains us all. Central to our campaign is our monthly beach clean events, where volunteers from all walks of life come together to restore our coastal environments. These gatherings are not just about picking up litter; they are a celebration of community, connection, and collective action, and kids are welcome to get involved! 

We're planning trips to some more remote locations during the Summer months in the hopes of finding some netting that would otherwise been left untouched. Locally, we aim to have someone from the team out each week focused purely on finding and removing ghost net from the shore. We're based in North East Scotland and have already recovered a large amount of netting from various locations along the coast. 

If you find spot anything in the area, please report it to us (or dig it up and we'll collect it!) By participating in the Ghost Net 1000 Campaign, you're not only helping to rid our oceans of harmful debris but also contributing to a larger movement toward sustainability and conservation. 

While we're still in the planning phases, we have a few ideas! At the moment, the net and rope we've recovered are being stored in our yard (and even in the back of trucks and gardens!). We'll gradually clean and separate the materials as we progress. Our primary aim is to keep it out of landfills, hence we're fully committed to recycling or repurposing alternatives.

Monthly beach clean dates, ghost net hunts, and other updates on this exciting announcement will be posted on our Instagram, which you can follow below.

Join us every Saturday at 10am at the Fittie end of Aberdeen beach for invigorating dips in the sea. The refreshing waters will not only revitalize your body but also uplift your spirits, offering a perfect blend of mental clarity and physical well-being.

For updates on volunteering at beach cleans, joining adventure days, and other upcoming events please see our social media pages.