Fight Against Mesophotic Debris - Destruction that often goes on in silence.

It all began with a simple act of kindness — one of our fellow divers carefully removed a plastic wrapper that had become entangled around a crab. That small gesture inspired us to think bigger. We realized that we could do more from the ground up, but we wanted to avoid knee-jerk reactions, such as hastily removing marine debris like ghost nets without proper planning.

From that realisation, we developed a careful yet straightforward framework: Locate, Survey, Tag, Assess Suitability for Removal, Plan Post-Removal Strategy, and Complete Documentation (After Action Review). This structured approach proved to be a game changer, especially in tackling debris in the mesophotic zone (depths below 30 m), where every mission demands precise planning and the collection of clean, actionable data.

Among the various types of debris found in the mesophotic zone, ghost nets are by far the most persistent, dangerous, and abundant. Their impact is extensive — ghost nets entangle corals, causing breakage and structural damage that leads to habitat degradation. The destruction of nursery habitats in deeper reefs can trigger declines in biodiversity in shallower coral ecosystems. Coral species that depend on these deeper zones for reproduction and growth may suffer increased mortality rates due to habitat loss. Furthermore, damaged corals have a diminished ability to recover from bleaching events and other stressors. Since healthy coral reefs provide essential services such as coastal protection and support for local economies, ghost nets pose a serious threat to both the environment and communities.

To date, we have removed over 150 kg of ghost nets and marine debris, much of it from depths reaching 60 m. While this may represent only a small dent in the larger battle against marine debris, every effort counts. Whether you are an individual seeking meaningful projects, a researcher pursuing academic goals, or part of an organization dedicated to marine conservation, our mission to address mesophotic debris not only helps preserve entire reef systems but can also align with and enhance your own initiatives.

As our methods continue to evolve, we are eager to collaborate with those interested in combining conservation with research. These debris-removal projects offer valuable opportunities to strengthen academic pursuits through data collection, mission planning, and applied research.

If you are passionate about protecting reefs, developing mission-critical skills, and contributing to clean scientific datasets, we invite you to join us. Ghost nets in deep waters remain a significant challenge, but through awareness, collaboration, and effective strategy, we can mitigate their impact. Everyone can play a part in safeguarding our oceans.