Removing, prospecting and valorization of lost fishing nets

Each year, more than 640,000 fishing gears are lost or abandoned at sea, which represents 10% of marine debris. This gear is mainly composed of nylon that can take up to 600 years to fully degrade. Their drift has important consequences on marine biodiversity: when a species is trapped, it dies of suffocation and its carcass attracts scavengers which then in turn are trapped. 

To combat this scourge, NaturDive has assisted fishermen in Cannes, Antibes and the Lérins Islands in implementing an intervention procedure that allows for the rapid recovery of lost fishing gear without further damaging biodiversity.

Main results of the project:

Implementation of an effective methodology for removing lost nets with small-scale fishermen in the Natura 2000 Cannes–Antibes–Lérins Islands area.
14 nets removed between June 2022 and June 2023, representing 1,740 metres of nets and 4,000 square metres of seabed restored.
Application of the GhostMed methodology for locating and assessing nets.
Prospecting by diving with underwater scooters and underwater GPS, an effective and operational method.

Updated on 30/10/2025