This year will see divers join in beach clean efforts in Ireland for the first time, using their skills to find and remove discarded fishing gear also known as ‘ghost nets’ from around the coast.

According to the Irish Examiner, marine conservation organisation Sea Shepherd has recruited a team of specially trained SCUBA divers who will take to the waters this spring to help tackle a hazardous situation that’s rarely visible from the shore.

“The biggest problem is not on the surface, it’s below the surface, and it’s the nets — 70 per cent of marine life entanglement is due to fishing nets being discarded,” said Sea Shepherd Ireland director Emma Tuite.

The campaign is being touted as “Ireland’s biggest ever beach clean underwater”, and the charity welcomes help from prospective divers as well as onshore volunteers to expand its reach.

The Irish Examiner has more on the story HERE.