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Showing posts with the label coral reef damage

Ghost Nets: Silent Killers Threatening Our Oceans and Reefs

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🌊 Beneath the calm surface of the ocean, a hidden danger lurks: ghost nets. These abandoned fishing nets keep trapping turtles, whales, dolphins, seals, seabirds, sharks, rays, and countless species of fish and invertebrates long after they are lost. Modern fishing nets, made from tough synthetic materials, can endure for decades, wounding marine life, tearing fragile reefs, and breaking down into microplastics that enter our food chain. ⚠️ The scale of the problem is staggering. Every year, massive amounts of fishing gear are lost at sea, with global costs in the billions from damaged reefs, depleted catches, and lost tourism. Left to drift, a single ghost net can snare countless animals and strip coral reefs bare as it drags across their fragile branches. ✨ But change is possible. Around the world, divers, scientists, and local communities are working to recover ghost nets and recycle the nylon into sustainable products. New technologies, from biodegradable nets to satellite-tracked...