3 days ago
Florida shrimpers say they are catching space junk in their nets, and it could get worse
The Brief
Florida shrimpers claim they're catching rocket debris in their nets more often.
Space experts say space companies do use the ocean to discard space debris, but they can't fully verify what they're catching is from rockets.
Some experts are worried people will see more space debris when Starship starts to launch in Florida.
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - Florida shrimpers say their nets are pulling up space debris more often. Experts say it's possible, and the problem could get worse.
What we know
Florida shrimpers on the Space Coast shared some recent photos from a shrimping trip with FOX 35 News.
A local captain who's been on the water for decades thinks what his crew is catching could be coming from rockets. He says his team has been catching more over the last few years as launches increase.
The captain says it's frustrating, because it costs crews time and money when their nets pick up trash. Estimates of loss are around $4,000-$5,000.
Space sources saw the photos and say it's possible it could be from rockets, but could also be cargo or cruise debris. Without proper testing and verification, they can't say for sure.
Experts say the ocean is a dumping ground for space waste still, and they're worried the issue could get worse when Starship launches from Florida.
What we don't know
Without proper testing and verification, no one FOX 35's Esther Bower spoke with can be fully sure what the shrimpers are catching is from space companies.
Also, it's hard to regulate the ocean, so there's not much that can be done to get backpay for the damages. That would be challenging for anyone to prove.
What they're saying
"I think they should do something to help us, because not only are we tearing up the nets, we (are) losing time, and it's smashing up the shrimp so we have to throw them away," said shrimp captain Woody Moore.
"In those early days, lots of rocket parts landed in the ocean, so it's more likely that it's something that happened a while ago," said Don Platt, who's an Associate Professor of Space Systems at Florida Tech.
"When starship launches from here, there could be a lot of debris, so that's something they should be mindful of," said Ken Kremer, who's a space journalist for "Space UpClose."
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The Source
This story was written based on information collected by FOX 35 News Reporter Esther Bower, who spoke with local shrimpers after sending photos of the debris in their nets. She also reached out to several space experts trying to confirm what the debris is. She interviewed two via zoom and shared the photos with them on May 30. She also emailed with a marine law lawyer who's tracking the increase in launches and how it could be affecting the oceans.
