After sonar data analysis, professional divers and a heavy-duty vessel with a lifting crane contributed to the retrieval success. © Andrea Stolte / WWF
Contact: Freya Duncker
In January 2020, WWF Germany’s ghost net team welcomed a new digital member: the “WWF Ghostdiver” app. The team developed this innovative app that allows divers or fishermen to actively participate in the search for ghost nets. It was officially launched at the international water sports trade fair, Boot 2020, in Düsseldorf.
The idea is inspired by the valuable knowledge of local people in the search for ghost nets. With the app, divers, fishers, sailors and water sports enthusiasts can report nets and other objects on a map, and – unique to WWF Ghostdiver – can verify suspicious sonar points that have already been reported. Information such as coordinates, water depth, a brief description and photos can also be uploaded. Professional divers can then check and retrieve the objects.
WWF Ghostdiver app. Photo: © WWF Germany
“With the app, recreational divers participate in an important step in the search for ghost nets. In future, fishing nets can be removed faster, more effectively and in greater volumes”, says Gabriele Dederer, WWF Germany’s Manager for the ghost gear project and initiator of the app.
Since 2014, a total of 18 tonnes of abandoned fishing nets have been detected and retrieved from the Baltic Sea. About half of this was achieved by testing various methodologies such as wreck retrievals and a dragging anchor. The efficiency of the sonar search technology brought success. In September 2020 alone, WWF Germany’s ghost net project team retrieved 9 tonnes of nets off the coast of Rügen Island with professional divers and a heavy-duty working vessel following sonar scans and analysis. This effectively doubled the amount of fishing gear collected from the Baltic seafloor.
With the “WWF Ghostdiver” app, the success rate is now set to rise further. The pilot will start in the Baltic Sea, with an expansion to the North Sea anticipated in 2021.Used exclusively as a reporting and verification tool, WWF Ghostdiver is available free of charge in German and English for Android and iOS in German app stores.
This article is part of the WWF Baltic Newsletter – December 2020
