Kategorie: News
Diving as an Active Form of Marine Conservation
Ghost nets—for many divers, they’re a distressing sight underwater. Tangled in shipwrecks, stretched across the seafloor, or drifting seemingly harmlessly—yet they’re deadly traps. Ever since the tragic case of the humpback whale “Timmy / Hope,” who made headlines with pieces of net stuck in its mouth, the issue has come to the attention of the general public. For us divers, this raises an important question: Can I help—and if so, how?
This is exactly where the work of the Society for the Rescue of Dolphins (GRD) comes in. A prerequisite for assisting with recoveries is participation in a relevant workshop (or missions with other organizations, such as Greenpeace, Sea Shepherd, WWF, the Baltic Sea Heritage Rescue Project…). Since 2022, the GRD has been offering special workshops to prepare divers for ghost net recoveries. More information can be found right here: https://www.delphinschutz.org/projekte/geisternetze/ and https://www.delphinschutz.org/projekte/geisternetze/workshops/
Maike from the Taucher.Net team had the opportunity in April to participate in one of these workshops in a small group in Gifhorn near Wolfsburg (Lower Saxony)—and can say right off the bat: “It was intense, educational, and has permanently changed my perspective on these kinds of missions.”
Why ghost nets are so dangerous
The numbers are alarming: Every year, more than 300,000 whales, dolphins, and porpoises die worldwide as bycatch in fishing nets. Added to this are millions of fish, seabirds, and other marine animals that perish in lost nets. These so-called ghost nets are usually made of plastic and can remain in the ocean for up to 600 years—and during that time, they continue to “fish” incessantly.
In the Baltic Sea alone, 5,000 to 10,000 such nets are added each year. Worldwide, an estimated one million or more pieces of lost fishing gear are added every year! The causes are varied: storms, accidents, or getting snagged on shipwrecks and obstacles. Although there is a mandatory reporting requirement for lost nets, this is often ignored in practice.
Particularly dramatic: Ghost nets become death traps not only for fish but also for larger animals. Dolphins, seals, and even seabirds become entangled or get caught while trying to eat prey from the nets. On Heligoland, for example, northern gannets use plastic debris from nets to build their nests—with fatal consequences for adult birds and chicks.
The GRD and Its Commitment
The Society for the Rescue of Dolphins (GRD) has been committed to the protection of dolphins and other marine mammals since 1991. In addition to educational work and other initiatives, this includes practical measures such as the recovery of ghost nets. These operations are carried out on a volunteer basis—an important point that should not be underestimated. Travel, lodging, and meals are covered by the participants themselves. The GRD is funded by donations and membership dues.
To optimally prepare divers for these demanding missions, workshops have been established. They are led by Wolfgang Düfer, a highly experienced dive instructor with over 3,000 dives under his belt, supported by Susanne Bordin, who has also been actively clearing ghost nets from the ocean since 2022.
Both bring not only expertise but also a great deal of passion for marine conservation.
Participants from all over Germany and neighboring countries attend the workshops in the beautiful mill town in Lower Saxony to complete both theoretical and practical training before their first real mission. The cost for participants is 120 euros for two days—the donation receipt issued for this amount is tax-deductible. If needed, Wolfgang and Susi will also travel to southern Germany, for example, if a diving club or group of divers with several participants there is interested in the workshops!
Safety in Ghost Net Recovery
Incidentally, during the workshop, participants are insured through Wolfgang’s diving club, Tauchertreff Meinersen, just in case. Finally, for recoveries with the GRD, all divers are automatically insured, since only GRD supporting members are generally permitted to participate. Supporting membership costs 35€ per year and includes this coverage.
The guiding principle “Personal safety comes before net recovery!” is the top priority and must never be forgotten in the heat of the moment. Wolfgang has been with the GRD since 2019, and fortunately, there have been no significant accidents to date. Safety first!
Requirements for Participation
This workshop is not intended for beginner divers. Anyone wishing to participate in recoveries must have a certain level of experience:
- At least 60 logged dives
- Experience with dry suits
- Experience diving to depths of up to 30 meters
By the way: At the GRD, it doesn’t matter which organization you belong to or whether you dive with twin tanks, a 15-liter tank, or a rebreather. What counts is experience, the ability to work as part of a team—and above all, the willingness to actively help.
We’re all divers—and only together can we make a difference!
Day 1: Theory That Gets Under Your Skin
The workshop begins with a round of introductions. It quickly becomes clear: Every participant has their own unique reasons for being here—ranging from the desire to actively make a difference to personal experiences with underwater nets!
A central part of Day 1 is the ZDF documentary “planet e.: Ghost Nets—Danger from the Seabed” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbJMR4v1aJQ), featuring heartbreaking images and information that really open your eyes. Wolfgang pauses every now and then to explain the background and share stories from his own experience—including his first recovery in 2019, which is also featured in the documentary.
Particularly striking are the glimpses into real-life operations: divers recovering nets in the cold, often dark Baltic Sea, supported by boats and lifting bags. Nets that can weigh as much as 500 kg and can only be recovered using a fishing boat equipped with a winch. Situations in which planning, experience, and teamwork are crucial to safety!
One point really stands out: In theory, the recovery of ghost nets should be a government responsibility. In reality, however, this dangerous work is predominantly carried out by (partly volunteer) organizations.
Key facts from the planet e episode:
- Scale: Approximately 130,000 dolphins, seals, and whales, as well as millions of fish and birds, die in these nets each year.
- Causes: Nets are lost due to storms, accidents, or becoming snagged on the seafloor.
- Recovery: The GRD uses lifting bags (with a load capacity of 20–500 kg) to recover the nets from the Baltic Sea.
- Issue: The requirement to report lost nets is often disregarded. If a fisherman loses a set net, he is required to report it so it can be recovered. Unfortunately, however, this reporting requirement is usually ignored.
Action must be taken here; the GRD does so through dedicated operations, because every net that is recovered can no longer kill! Every year, two to three GRD weekend operations take place on or off the coast of Rügen. To facilitate quick communication regarding new dates and detailed arrangements, there is a WhatsApp group with currently about 100 members; on average, about 10 divers are on site during the operations.
In addition to highlighting the dangers, the documentary also showcases potential solutions and recovery operations and is available in the ZDF media library: https://www.zdf.de/(..)/planet-e-geisternetze--gefahr-vom-meeresgrund
Ghostnet App
There are now apps, such as Ghostnet, that display the locations of found ghost nets. Divers can then use these apps to assess in advance how the net can be recovered, at what depth it lies, etc. Thanks to modern technology, this is a valuable aid for recovery planning today.
Ghost Net Jewelry for a Good Cause
The GRD collaborates with the company ColorSwell (https://www.colorswell.de/). It’s a small artisanal workshop that crafts bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. The jewelry is made from old, washed-up fishing nets and ropes. After cleaning, the materials are lovingly handcrafted into sustainable jewelry and maritime accessories—each piece is one-of-a-kind with a rich history.
Equipment and Hazards Underwater
Another key focus of the documentary—and of Wolfgang’s subsequent presentation—is on having the right equipment and positioning it correctly; every move must be precise. You have to find everything by feel. Nothing should be hanging loose and potentially pose a hazard.
Of course, having the right tools is also essential:
- Cut-resistant gloves (e.g., with Kevlar) are mandatory!
- Knives, saws, and line cutters must be within easy reach!
- Wire cutters are necessary for steel cables (“Hercules cables”)
- Lifting bags with load capacities ranging from 20 to 500 kg are used!
What many people underestimate: The techniques underwater differ significantly from those on land. Movements are slower, resistance is different—and your buoyancy must remain stable at the same time.
On top of that, there are dangers you might not immediately consider. Many wrecks in the Baltic Sea date back to the world wars or the GDR era. Ammunition, mines, or other explosive remnants are not uncommon. The rule here is: keep your eyes open and keep your distance.
Practical Training on Land: First “Aha!” Moments
After the first part of the theory on Day 1, we head out into the fresh air.
A prepared ghost net is set up, along with a selection of tools—and a box full of trash collected during a beach walk in Denmark. It’s a striking reminder of how carelessly our environment is often treated. To raise awareness even among the youngest children, Wolfgang even offers child-friendly workshops on trash and environmental pollution at schools in the region.
We try out various tools and quickly realize: even on land, cutting through certain ropes can be quite a feat of strength. The “Hercules ropes” (wire ropes)—which are invisible from the outside—are particularly challenging.
The use of lift bags is also demonstrated. How do you attach them properly? How do you ensure controlled buoyancy? These are all items that will later be used underwater.
Teamwork and the Recovery Process
Another important aspect is organization underwater. A recovery is always carried out as a team, usually in groups of three. Tasks are clearly assigned in advance:
- Who cuts or saws?
- Who secures the lifting bags?
- Who provides lighting and maintains an overview?
During the dive, roles are rotated regularly, as the individual tasks are extremely physically demanding. After about 30 minutes, the shift is often over—then the next team takes over. This structure ensures not only efficiency but also safety.
Day 2: Diving In and Checking Reality
On the second day, it’s time to get in the water—for the practical portion in Allersee near Wolfsburg. A prepared net—which Susi and Wolfgang had already placed on the Allersee plateau during an early-morning dive that morning—awaits the participants.
After the briefing by Wolfgang and Susi, the participants form teams on their own and plan their dive. Who does what? Which tools will be used? Once underwater, it quickly becomes clear: theory and practice are two completely different things!
The combination of buoyancy control, limited visibility, physical exertion, and coordinating tasks demands full concentration. Even simple cuts take a lot of strength—and that’s at a depth of just a few meters. In reality, the nets are usually much deeper - mostly at 20 to 30 meters.
The goal of this dive is to experience every possible scenario at the net—whether using a saw or wire cutters, dealing with a standard net or one with steel wire—and to secure the lift bags in the correct positions before ascending.
Everything went smoothly; the team successfully freed and recovered the ghost net. Congratulations!
Lessons Learned from Practice
The dive is followed by a debriefing—and here, Susi provides an honest analysis. At first, some participants were a bit too hesitant. In real-life operations, there’s no time for that. Everyone must know what they’re supposed to do, and the team must work quickly and in unison. At the same time, everyone agrees: that’s exactly what the workshop is for. Make mistakes, learn, and improve!
One participant sums it up: “It was awesome—and very insightful to run through all the techniques underwater. I hadn’t realized how physically demanding it is—and how important it is to really know the procedures. I can absolutely recommend this course! Wolfgang and Susi are great instructors and gave helpful tips.” This makes participating in this workshop all the more important, because if someone dives for the first time on Rügen and then feels overwhelmed because they have no idea what to actually expect in practice, the whole operation can go awry and even become dangerous for that diver and everyone else who might then have to assist them underwater.
Conclusion: More Than Just a Diving Course
The workshop offered by the Society for the Rescue of Dolphins (Gesellschaft zur Rettung der Delphine e.V.) is no ordinary specialty course. It’s intensive preparation for a task that requires courage, skill, and team spirit. All participants this weekend passed and received a certificate of participation and the corresponding certification, which is essential for authorization to carry out these missions.
For the participants, it was a weekend full of new experiences—and also a certain sense of humility. Because one thing became clear: ghost net recovery isn’t something you just “do on the fly.”
But: It’s an opportunity for divers to actively make a difference.
Every net recovered means less suffering underwater.
And that’s exactly what makes the difference.
Everyone was thrilled and has already joined the GRD WhatsApp group; they’re now eagerly looking forward to their first ghost net recovery mission.
Further information and dates can be found directly on the website of the Society for the Rescue of Dolphins (GRD): https://www.delphinschutz.org/ Here you’ll find general information about the GRD as well as specific details on the topic of ghost nets. Maybe we’ll see each other at the next workshop—or even on a mission off the coast of Rügen?