Deadly ghost nets washing up on Australian beaches | 7.30

Key Concepts

• Ghost Nets: Discarded fishing nets that drift in the ocean, continuing to catch and kill marine life, acting as "walls of death."
• Indigenous Rangers: Local indigenous groups responsible for managing and protecting their traditional lands and seas.
• Sea Shepherd: A marine conservation group whose volunteers assist in cleanup operations.
• Arnamland: A region in the Northern Territory of Australia, known for its rugged coastlines.
• Gulf of Carpentaria: A large, shallow sea between Australia's Northern Territory and Queensland, a major area affected by ghost nets.
• Arafura and Timor Seas: Semi-enclosed and relatively shallow seas shared by Australia and its nearest neighbors (Indonesia, PNG), where ocean currents bring nets to Australian shores.
• Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing: Fishing activities that violate national or international laws, are not reported to authorities, or are conducted by vessels without nationality or in areas not covered by conservation measures.
• Taka: A local term for traditional food sources, including stingrays, shark, turtle, and dugong.
• Ghost Net Initiative: A $15 million federal government program that subsidized remote beach cleanups over four years, now facing expiration.

The Pristine Coasts Under Threat

The rugged coast of southeast Arnamland in the Gulf of Carpentaria, considered among the most pristine beaches globally, faces a severe threat from foreign fishing gear. These waters have historically been an abundant source of "taka" (traditional food) for local indigenous communities, including stingrays, shark, turtle, and dugong. As one local stated, "Shop very expensive. It's like tripled the price as it is in town. And the best thing is to stick on country food, you know, go out fishing... But those animals are under threat from foreign fishing gear."

The Menace of Ghost Nets

Ghost nets are discarded fishing nets that often drift for years before reaching Australian shores. Once at sea, they continue to float, forming "a wall of death" that traps and kills marine life, including fish, turtles, dugongs, and potentially whales and dolphins. These nets are described as "horrible" by those who deal with them, often found buried or wrapped around dead tree branches, sometimes reaching massive sizes. Clive Nongogalu, a senior cultural leader, expressed concern for children playing on beaches strewn with this equipment, stating, "Our kids, they like to go out hunting with the spears, fishing line, and running with no shoes on. They might get hurt in the feet or somewhere."

Cleanup Efforts and Immediate Impact

Volunteers from the conservation group Sea Shepherd have joined local indigenous rangers in major cleanup operations along sections of coastline, such as those just south of Blue Mud Bay. During one cleanup, a crew tackled a large net "inhabited by hundreds of hermit crabs." In a single day, the team successfully removed two tons of nets and other rubbish from just one section of a single beach. These cleanups have shown tangible positive results, with turtles, highly vulnerable to the nets, observed returning to cleaned beaches for nesting season. A ranger noted, "It's really good for us to keep continue and keep all the rubbish away from a good sport up here and even myself when I see the beach clean. So I don't worry about the kids now. They can play and enjoy their life in the beach here along the sand. So really good for me when I see beach nice and clean. Make me proud."

Tracing the Source: International Dimensions

The nets reaching Australian beaches are carried by ocean currents from the semi-enclosed and relatively shallow Arafura and Timor seas, which Australia shares with its nearest neighbors, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Indonesia is identified as the second-largest fishing nation globally, and a major concern in the Gulf of Carpentaria is the "sheer number of Indonesian fishermen and illegal fishes in the Arafura Sea in particular." Researchers are able to trace the origin of these nets by "analyzing net designs." Their findings indicate that many nets trace back to countries with low reported catch, suggesting that "illegal and unregulated fishing is happening at scale." Specifically, over 95% of the foreign fishing nets washing ashore originate from just four countries: Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, and Korea. This often involves countries "fishing in Indonesian waters... which are not reporting their catch to the Indonesian authorities."

Funding and Policy Challenges

Last year, the federal government announced $1.44 million to work with Indonesia and PNG to address ghost nets at their source. However, Karen Eddy Vain from Sea Shepherd deems this contribution "woefully inadequate," arguing for an "in-country presence" with people working "side by side with their fisheries counterparts" in Indonesia, Timor, and Papua New Guinea.

Another critical funding concern is the $15 million Ghost Net Initiative, which has subsidized remote beach cleanups over the past four years. Ranger groups are worried about its potential expiration. They warn that if the federal government does not renew this funding, it will lead to "the end of a lot of the resources and the tools that the rangers need," making them unable to fund cleanups. Rangers emphasized their commitment, stating, "We don't worry about money, but if you get the message, government people, um, we need to protect our country and keep us our country really strong. So we want to get support from you guys, you know, and keep our ranger group working and keep us strong." In response, a spokesperson for the Albanese government stated that while the money is due to expire in December, "longer-term funding is being considered."

Conclusion: Call for Sustained Action

The pervasive issue of ghost nets poses a significant threat to Australia's pristine marine environments, traditional food sources, and the safety of indigenous communities. While the dedicated efforts of indigenous rangers and conservation groups like Sea Shepherd have demonstrated success in cleaning beaches and facilitating the return of vulnerable species like nesting turtles, the scale of the problem demands a more robust and sustained response. The current funding mechanisms, both for international source-country initiatives and domestic cleanup programs, are perceived as insufficient and precarious. A sustained commitment of adequate funding and a strong, in-country collaborative presence are essential to effectively combat ghost nets, protect marine biodiversity, and support the vital work of indigenous rangers in safeguarding their country.