Goa Divers Extract 100kg of Ghost Nets from Bogmalo Beach in Major Marine Cleanup Effort
In a significant move to combat marine pollution along Goa's coastline, a team of professional divers from Goa Diving successfully retrieved nearly 100 kilograms of abandoned fishing nets from the sea off Bogmalo beach in Vasco on Sunday. The divers—Levito Rodrigues, Hari Krishnan, and Elias Salamao—targeted these hazardous "ghost nets" as part of their ongoing mission to preserve the region's aquatic environment.
Annual Cleanup Reveals Worsening Situation
Diver Levito Rodrigues emphasized that this exercise is conducted annually to maintain sea cleanliness, but the situation is deteriorating each year. "We carry out this exercise every year as part of our mission to keep the sea clean. The situation is quite bad," Rodrigues stated. "We remove huge nets that are deeply entangled in underwater rocks, but there are also countless smaller pieces floating in the sea." He noted that the problem intensifies annually, posing a severe threat to marine ecosystems.
Silent Destruction Beneath the Waves
Ghost nets, often invisible from the surface, continue to trap fish, turtles, crustaceans, and other marine species, leading to what divers describe as "silent destruction" beneath the waves. These floating fragments migrate across the seabed and water column with tidal shifts, ensnaring additional debris and exacerbating pollution. Rodrigues explained, "As the nets move with the tide, other waste items get entangled, increasing their buoyancy. During rough sea conditions, these accumulated masses are pushed further out into the sea." This cycle spreads contamination over wider areas, making retrieval efforts both difficult and hazardous.
Call for Institutional Intervention
While private initiatives like those by Goa Diving contribute to marine conservation, the divers stressed that the scale of the problem necessitates institutional intervention. Rodrigues urged authorities to deploy specialized agencies equipped with advanced technology and trained manpower to identify and remove ghost nets from deeper waters. "These nets destroy deep-sea marine life. As private players, we try to do our bit because we love the water and deep-sea diving," he said. "But dedicating ourselves entirely to this cause is difficult as we also have to cater to our business."
Impact on Biodiversity and Livelihoods
Bogmalo beach, a popular destination for tourists and local fishermen, relies on clean water for biodiversity and the livelihoods dependent on fishing and tourism. Environmentalists have repeatedly highlighted the issue of marine litter along Goa's coast, with ghost nets constituting a major portion of underwater waste. The cleanup team revealed that more ghost nets remain hidden beneath the surface, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive action.
The divers' efforts not only remove immediate hazards but also raise awareness about the critical need for sustained environmental protection measures in Goa's coastal regions.
