Strietman, W. J., E. Wurz, 2026. Ecologically informed decision-making for ghost nets from shipwrecks and the seabed in the North Sea and Adriatic Sea using scuba diving Wageningen
Strietman & Wurz (2026) explored how to make informed decisions on whether ghost nets attached to shipwrecks and seabed habitats should be removed or left in place. Through pilot studies in the North Sea and Adriatic Sea, the authors found that ghost nets do not have a uniform impact: gillnets often continue to pose risks through entanglement and ghost fishing, while trawl nets may, over time, become integrated into seabed habitats and support marine life. The study proposes a decision-making framework that balances the benefits of net removal against the ecological value that some abandoned gear may acquire, supporting more effective and ecologically informed management of marine debris.
