Gill Net Removal near Gidaki Beach, Ithaca Greece

Imagine you are standing on the famous Gidaki Beach on the island of Ithaca, Greece. Everywhere you look, you can see the crystal-clear blue waters of the Ionian Sea. Very close to this peaceful place, our volunteers from Ghost Diving Greece recently discovered and removed a large fishing net entangled on the seabed.

The area of Gidaki Beach is well known for its beautiful views and vibrant marine life. For this reason it attracts swimmers, snorkelers, pleasure boats, and divers throughout the summer months. It is also a popular spot for local fishermen.

During a recent dive, our team encountered a lost gill net. It was approximately 100 meters long and 3 meters wide. It appeared to be a fairly recent loss. As a result, the ghost net was still actively trapping marine animals such as slipper lobsters, crabs, and a large grouper.

Ghost Diving Greece carefully retrieved the entire net.  preventing further entanglement and eliminating a hazard to marine life and other local water users.

This action highlights the importance of rapid response in tackling newly lost fishing gear. In fact, fresh ghost fishing gear is the most deadly. At the beginning, its fishing efficiency is at its highest. As the net degrades, it still continues to trap marine animals, posing a serious threat to the ecosystem.

📍 Location: Gidaki Beach, Ithaca, Greece
🤿 Team: Ghost Diving Greece
👻 Recovered ghost gear: ~100m gill net with a submerged buoy
🦞 Marine life released: 3 mediterranean slipper lobsters, a large grouper, several smaller fish and crabs

The project was supported by our partner: Healthy Seas.