The destructive impact of humans is evident even in the deeper waters of the Aegean where some of the most productive ecosystems of our seas still survive.

Removing abandoned nets has become a new “greenwashing” trend. However, in many cases the process of removing them can be significantly destructive for the species living on reefs and sea mounts. This is because the removal process inevitably drags along a large number of sessile marine organisms that have attached themselves and now grow on these nets.

Plastic nets should now be considered an outdated fishing tool, as they offer limited efficiency and low selectivity in fishing. Many of them become entangled and are abandoned on the seabed, especially in rocky areas with steep bottoms and strong currents. They leave a heavy footprint, both for the fishers who lose them and for the marine species that get trapped in them.

Note:
Answering a reasonable question that many have: there is a difference between removing a net or longline that has been on the seabed for just 2–3 years – which should be removed immediately if feasible – and attempting to remove net or other material that has been on the seabed for decades and has now become integrated into the ecosystem. In the latter case, the process of removal can cause even greater damage. In these cases where a net or other material has been on the seabed for several years, it may be better to leave it there in order to preserve the marine life growing on it.