Scientific publication on ghost nets in the marine protected area of Sounio

Ghost nets represent one of the most severe yet least visible threats to marine ecosystems worldwide. They originate from fishing and aquaculture activities, where nets are lost or abandoned due to operational failures, adverse weather conditions, accidental loss, or inadequate end-of-life management.

Once in the marine environment, ghost nets exert multiple pressures: they entrap and cause mortality of marine organisms, alter benthic habitats, disrupt ecosystem structure, and contribute to the gradual release of microplastics into the sea.

Within the framework of the Martinos project, underwater clean-up activities were conducted in the marine protected area of Sounio, Greece (NATURA 2000), aiming to scientifically document the extent of ghost net pollution and assess the feasibility of their removal. The activities focused on identifying ghost nets, evaluating their ecological condition, assessing whether removal was possible without causing further harm, and proceeding with their removal when feasible.

Over the course of one year, a total of 1,200 kg of ghost nets was removed. In parallel, 68 different species were recorded colonizing the nets. These species belonged to a wide range of taxonomic groups, including Mollusca, Porifera, Chordata, Arthropoda, Echinodermata, Bryozoa, Ochrophyta, Tracheophyta, Rhodophyta, Cnidaria, Chlorophyta, and Annelida.

Of the recorded species, 86% were native to the Mediterranean Sea, while 14% were invasive. None of the identified species is currently listed as threatened under the IUCN Red List, although their interaction with ghost nets highlights the complex ecological dynamics associated with marine litter.