Ghost nets threaten marine life in Labuan waters

23 March 2023

By Wartawan Nabalu News

Labuan: The marine ecosystem in Labuan waters is under threat from ghost nets - fishing nets that are lost or abandoned at sea.

These nets can entangle and kill various marine animals, such as fish, turtles, dolphins, sharks, seals and birds.

According to Labuan Fisheries Director Faizal Ibrahim Suhaili, his department is working with local fishermen, divers, firefighters and volunteers to remove as many ghost nets as possible from the seabed.

He said an operation conducted on March 19 and 20 at Rusukan Kecil and Rusukan Besar islands resulted in the recovery of 36kg of nylon nets that were believed to have been left behind by traditional fishermen.

He added that another operation would be carried out before the end of the year to ensure that Labuan waters are free from ghost nets.

He urged fishermen to be responsible and not discard their fishing gear at sea, as ghost nets are a major contributor to the ocean plastics crisis and can also damage coral reefs.

He said ghost nets can last for centuries in the water and can catch hundreds of animals in a single net. He also said that ghost nets can break corals, expose them to disease, and block them from sunlight.