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Kota Kinabalu: Ghost nets continue to pose a serious threat to marine life in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (TARP), with conservationists calling for stronger action to tackle the problem at its source rather than relying solely on repeated clean-up efforts.
A rapid response underwater clean-up conducted on July 21 at two key dive sites in the marine park recovered several ghost nets, including one massive net measuring about 150 metres in length, highlighting the persistent presence of abandoned fishing gear in one of Sabah’s most important marine protected areas.
A view of the ghost net in question.The clean-up was organised by the Marine Research Foundation (MRF) in collaboration with Sabah Parks and Sabah Dive Rangers, with support from GoAquatic.
The operation focused on areas where ghost nets had been repeatedly recorded during previous removal efforts. Ghost nets are abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear that drifts through ocean currents before becoming entangled on coral reefs, where they can trap, injure and kill marine animals.
Equipped with protective gear provided by Ansell, 12 volunteer divers carefully navigated reef structures to remove the entangled nets without damaging the surrounding corals while safely freeing trapped marine animals.
According to MRF, similar clean-ups have become increasingly common despite years of removal efforts and growing public awareness. Since 2021, the foundation and its partners have removed more than 3.9 tonnes of ghost nets and marine debris from TARP. MRF Plastics Project Lead Coordinator Chris Chai Chun Xue said the repeated discovery of ghost nets in the same locations was deeply concerning.
“The troubling reality is that these clean-ups are becoming increasingly routine. These ghost nets keep returning to the same area, and over the years, we have seen countless marine animals, such as sea turtles, sharks, rays, crabs and many others, trapped and killed because of these abandoned nets. It is heartbreaking.
“Immediate action is needed to remove them from the marine environment to prevent further loss of marine life, but it is only part of the solution. Until we stop ghost gear at the source, our reefs will remain under constant siege,” she said.
The ghost nets removed by the volunteer divers. (Pix Chris Binch).MRF noted that TARP is a biodiversity hotspot renowned for its vibrant coral reefs and rich marine life but continues to face threats from human marine activities and coastal drift waste.
The foundation called for stronger measures to prevent fishing gear loss, improve gear-marking protocols and enhance collaboration among fisheries authorities, the fishing industry and conservation organisations to address the issue at its source.