SeaClear2.0 will develop an integrated approach to address the full cycle of marine litter in a way that will help meet the objectives of the Mission to restore, protect and preserve the health of our oceans, seas and waters by 2030, in the context of the Mediterranean sea basin lighthouse of the European Commission.
Ghost nets are silently destroying our oceans
Why?
Lost or abandoned fishing nets can trap marine life for decades, slowly breaking down into microplastics that threaten ecosystems and even human health. Ghost nets pose a major threat as they continue “hunting” marine life trapping and killing dolphins, sea turtles, and other species contributing to biodiversity loss.
Where?
SeaClear 2.0 – Ghost Nets Hunter is taking action in Iskenderun Bay, Turkey. On land, a beach clean-up in Çevlik (September 2025) revealed a harsh reality: over 80% of collected waste was plastic.
Our Project
The Project brought together fisherman, coast guards, environmental experts, and local authorities. A launch workshop in Samandag (March 2025) identified ghost net hotspots and strengthened collaboration to protect the bay. Partnering with DegzRobotics, a custom underwater drone was successfully tested in October 2025 and is now used to detect ghost nets and GPS-tagged images, creating a live map of underwater pollution.
The SeaClear 2.0 project is a co-funded by the European Union under the HorizonEU research and innovation programme.
Watch how SeaClear2.0 is developing real solutions to tackle marine litter and protect our oceans:
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Learn more about the project: https://www.seaclear2.eu/