A part of
“A Citizens’ Initiative: ‘GhostNetFree Ocean’ – Fishers Safeguarding Our Ocean from Ghost Nets” (GhostNetFree Ocean) is a transformative, community-centered initiative aimed at tracking, removing, and repurposing marine waste to restore the biodiversity of the north Aegean Sea.
Removing abandoned fishing gear (ghost nets) and other waste debris from critical marine habitats.
Local fishers report and recover lost gear, improving the health of marine environments - vital to their livelihoods.
Collaboration with Aegean Recycling to convert the waste collected into renewable energy, contributing to the circular economy.
Educating youth, local communities, and visitors about the importance of marine conservation on the island through workshops and hands-on activities.
Marine pollution is one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, endangering marine life and coastal communities. The GhostNetFree Ocean project aligns with the objectives of the 9th ‘Our Ocean’ conference held in Athens in 2024, which called for urgent action to revitalize ocean health, protect biodiversity, and conserve vital marine ecosystems.
It also aligns with the European Union directive for action to restore degraded ecosystems and maintain sustainable practices (the Nature Restoration Law, Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the Parliament).
