Ghost Fishing
It is a sad but all too real fact that Thailand’s National Marine Parks are used as illegal fishing grounds on regular occasions and proof off this comes from what is known as “GHOST FISHING.”
Ghost fishing is the term used for lost or abandoned fishing gear that continues to catch fish.
It is environmentally detrimental and the fish caught are wasted.
These nets, often nearly invisible in the dim light, can be left tangled on a rocky reef or drifting in the open sea.
They can entangle fish, dolphins, sea turtles, sharks and other creatures, including the occasional human diver.
Acting as designed, the nets restrict movement, causing starvation, laceration and infection, and suffocation in those that need to return to the surface to breathe.
We are looking to authorities to help with this ongoing problem by standing by the policies of National Marine Parks and actually start to hand out some heavy fines to any fishermen breaking the law and fishing in our Marine Parks.
Divers and Dive Organisations can help us implement this.
If you are out and see any fishing boats with there nets out in Protected Marine Parks please photograph or video them making sure you get the number on the front of the boat and their national flag.
We will report the case brought to us through our contact in the Thai Fisheries Dept and to the local Government office concerned with National Parks.
We off course will keep a record of all such illegal fishing on file that can be used in the prosecution of fishing boats that enter your parks.
Dive Tribe is committed to working with all the Dive Organisations and the diving population of Thailand.
As a collective group we have more power & persuasion to force authorities to act.
Ghost fishing is the term used for lost or abandoned fishing gear that continues to catch fish.
It is environmentally detrimental and the fish caught are wasted.
These nets, often nearly invisible in the dim light, can be left tangled on a rocky reef or drifting in the open sea.
They can entangle fish, dolphins, sea turtles, sharks and other creatures, including the occasional human diver.
Acting as designed, the nets restrict movement, causing starvation, laceration and infection, and suffocation in those that need to return to the surface to breathe.
We are looking to authorities to help with this ongoing problem by standing by the policies of National Marine Parks and actually start to hand out some heavy fines to any fishermen breaking the law and fishing in our Marine Parks.
Divers and Dive Organisations can help us implement this.
If you are out and see any fishing boats with there nets out in Protected Marine Parks please photograph or video them making sure you get the number on the front of the boat and their national flag.
We will report the case brought to us through our contact in the Thai Fisheries Dept and to the local Government office concerned with National Parks.
We off course will keep a record of all such illegal fishing on file that can be used in the prosecution of fishing boats that enter your parks.
Dive Tribe is committed to working with all the Dive Organisations and the diving population of Thailand.
As a collective group we have more power & persuasion to force authorities to act.
The Ghost Teams
We would also like to set up what we call rapid response “Ghost Teams.”
Dive Tribe are happy to organise and manage teams of volunteers to help assist with the removal of "Ghost Nets" from around Thailand’s marine environment.
Therfore we are asking for volunteers to step forward and offer there services to help on these projects.
You of course need to have been an experienced diver with a minimum of 150 logged dives and hold PADI Advanced Diver or equivalent training agency cert or above. (Some of this work can be at depth and in strong currents out at sea).
We are looking for teams of 20 people from all nationalities in different areas (see below) that we can dispatch to remove these nets quickly before too much marine life is destroyed.
Unfortunately relying on authorities to remove these nets is just not working.
If you interested in getting onto a team please let us know and we can start to put this together.
Contact us and send us your chosen team area, diving background, current work details/availability, plus phone number and we will get back to you
Valid Diving insurance will also will be taken into consideration and would be reccomended and help you gain a place on the team.
There will naturally be a "Team Leader" and your details will be sent on to them only.
We will not share your details with anyone else.
Also if you have any information on location of ghost nets please send us the dive location or better still the GPS coordinates and we can then dispatch the teams to clean the affected areas.
Ghost Teams (spaces available on all teams)
Bangkok
Pattaya
Phuket
Koh Samui
Koh Chang
Koh Tao
Krabi
Phi Phi
Koh Lanta
Some of the tools of the trade:
Strong Box Cutter/ Stanley Knife for quick and effective cutting for easier portions of net.
Sharp Pruning Shears for tougher rope and thick sections.
Lift Bags to bring up large pieces of net.
Large canvas sacks to bring up smaller pieces of net
Divers must understand: This is all a voluntary operation and divers enter this at there own risk
Dive Tribe take no responsibility for injury or loss of life while removing ghost net.
If authorities did their job better and managed the huge budget they give the Fisheries and Navy the public would not have to go to such lengths to protect the Marine Environment they love.
Please Help Us To Keep Our Ocean Free Of Debris
Every public donation goes towards keeping our operation running and marine environment clean.
Thank You For Caring
The Team at Dive Tribe
Dive Tribe are happy to organise and manage teams of volunteers to help assist with the removal of "Ghost Nets" from around Thailand’s marine environment.
Therfore we are asking for volunteers to step forward and offer there services to help on these projects.
You of course need to have been an experienced diver with a minimum of 150 logged dives and hold PADI Advanced Diver or equivalent training agency cert or above. (Some of this work can be at depth and in strong currents out at sea).
We are looking for teams of 20 people from all nationalities in different areas (see below) that we can dispatch to remove these nets quickly before too much marine life is destroyed.
Unfortunately relying on authorities to remove these nets is just not working.
If you interested in getting onto a team please let us know and we can start to put this together.
Contact us and send us your chosen team area, diving background, current work details/availability, plus phone number and we will get back to you
Valid Diving insurance will also will be taken into consideration and would be reccomended and help you gain a place on the team.
There will naturally be a "Team Leader" and your details will be sent on to them only.
We will not share your details with anyone else.
Also if you have any information on location of ghost nets please send us the dive location or better still the GPS coordinates and we can then dispatch the teams to clean the affected areas.
Ghost Teams (spaces available on all teams)
Bangkok
Pattaya
Phuket
Koh Samui
Koh Chang
Koh Tao
Krabi
Phi Phi
Koh Lanta
Some of the tools of the trade:
Strong Box Cutter/ Stanley Knife for quick and effective cutting for easier portions of net.
Sharp Pruning Shears for tougher rope and thick sections.
Lift Bags to bring up large pieces of net.
Large canvas sacks to bring up smaller pieces of net
Divers must understand: This is all a voluntary operation and divers enter this at there own risk
Dive Tribe take no responsibility for injury or loss of life while removing ghost net.
If authorities did their job better and managed the huge budget they give the Fisheries and Navy the public would not have to go to such lengths to protect the Marine Environment they love.
Please Help Us To Keep Our Ocean Free Of Debris
Every public donation goes towards keeping our operation running and marine environment clean.
Thank You For Caring
The Team at Dive Tribe