Development Policy Foundation

🌐 SeaClear Update: Activity 2: Advanced Ghost Net Mapping Underway

Implemented under the SeaClear 2.0 initiative, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, the Ghost Nets Hunter: The stakeholder-driven ghost nets recovery and upcycling in Hatay, Turkey project has entered a critical new phase in Samandağ, — kicking off Act 2: Initial Ghost Net Mapping. This marks a major step in the project’s mission to locate and eventually remove ghost nets, which are abandoned fishing gear that continue to trap marine life and damage underwater habitats.

To ensure precise, high-quality mapping, the SeaClear team is deploying advanced robotic technologies, including an underwater autonomous vehicle, to scan seabeds and coastal zones for submerged debris. These robots use sonar and imaging sensors to identify net-like structures with high accuracy, even in low-visibility areas where traditional diving is too dangerous or inefficient.

Complementing this high-tech approach is the WWF GhostDiver App, which enables local divers and fishers to report ghost net locations directly from the field. This integration of community input with automated surveys creates a rich, multi-source dataset that strengthens the reliability and scope of the mapping process.

With this dual strategy, SeaClear 2.0 is laying the groundwork for targeted removal campaigns later this year. The Samandağ pilot is part of a broader vision to demonstrate how robotics and citizen science can work together to tackle marine litter in complex environments across Europe.

Stay tuned as we move from mapping to removal!

🌊 Ghost Nets Hunter: Clearing the Seas, Reviving Marine Life in Hatay, Turkey

We are proud to contribute to Ghost Nets Hunter, a collaborative initiative under the EU-funded SeaClear2.0 project—Europe’s flagship program for tackling marine litter through advanced technologies and citizen engagement. This local pilot in Samandağ, Hatay, is focused on removing ghost nets—abandoned fishing gear that silently devastates marine life in the Bay of İskenderun (Bay of Alexandretta), one of the most impacted regions in the Eastern Mediterranean. Studies estimate that up to 309 marine organisms perish for every 100 meters of ghost net, including endangered loggerhead turtles nesting along these shores.

The project unites the efforts of Samandağ Municipality, Tekebaşı Fisheries Cooperative, Mustafa Kemal University, the Directorate General of Coastal Safety, and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. It kicked off with stakeholder coordination meetings and a participatory decision-making workshop on ghost net fishing and prevention. These early actions are part of a broader, inclusive strategy grounded in local knowledge and technical expertise.

Importantly, an ex-ante analysis was conducted to understand the environmental and social baseline, helping shape realistic and impactful intervention strategies. We’ve also launched the first phase of ghost net mapping and tracking in the bay—laying the foundation for targeted recovery operations. These efforts are key to SeaClear2.0’s mission of integrating scientific innovation, local action, and environmental stewardship.

With Ghost Nets Hunter, we are not only cleaning our seas—we are restoring ecosystems, empowering coastal communities, and turning marine waste into opportunity through upcycling.