NGO's ghost net removal mission proves a boon for fishermen in Andhra Pradesh
Ongole: Singoti Koteswara Rao, a fisherman from Allur village under Kothapatnam mandal in Prakasam district, has seen his income nearly double this peak season compared to previous years.
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His team's overall catch significantly improved in the past few months, thanks to the efforts of NGO Animal Warriors Conservation Society (AWCS), whose continuous efforts to remove ghost nets and marine plastic has revitalised fishing in the region, leading to increased yields and higher revenues for the fisherfolks. With the support of local fishermen, AWCS has so far removed about 5,455 kgs of marine plastics from Kothapatnam region alone.
It has also recycled about 26,000 kgs of ghost nets retrieved from the local coast.
Through community-led efforts, the NGO has facilitated the recovery of ghost nets and other marine plastics from coastal waters, reducing the risk of entanglement and mortality for marine life. This has contributed to the restoration of critical marine habitats, besides enhancing the biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. Local fishermen earned a whopping Rs 14 lakh from the recycled plastics recovered from the ocean.
"Fishermen who venture into the sea have little knowledge of the ocean's topography. Whenever they spot a shoal of fish, they release their gear around it to trap the fish inside. Fishing nets sometimes get entangled in rocky structures on the seafloor, which becomes difficult for the fishermen to retrieve, leaving them no choice except to abandon the nets," explains Pradeep Nair, founder and president of AWCS.
Senior project manager P Ramakrishna said it's usually a huge loss for fishermen as the net itself is a huge investment for them.
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"A lost net and reduced fish catch often leads to the fishermen returning empty-handed, deepening their financial struggles and pushing them further into debt," he said.
Research indicates that over 90% of the species trapped in ghost gear are commercially valuable, making ghost fishing not only an environmental issue but also a major economic challenge, threatening the sustainability and profitability of fisheries.
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