Healthy Seas removes 36.06 tons of marine litter from abandoned mussel farm in Salamina, Greece
The project marks Healthy Seas’ sixth abandoned aquaculture clean-up since 2021, and the first focused on a mussel farm
PRESS RELEASE
Salamina, Greece, July 13th 2026 — The Healthy Seas Foundation has completed the clean-up of an abandoned mussel farm in Salamina, near Athens, removing 36.06 tons of marine litter from the sea and coastline. The project was carried out with the support of Hyundai Motor Europe and in collaboration with Ghost Diving volunteers, IGMAR Group, OZON NGO, DOTANK Plus (as impact strategy and project development advisor) and other local stakeholders, commissioned by the Decentralized Administration of Attica and under the auspices of the Municipality of Salamina.
The Salamina project is the sixth abandoned aquaculture site cleaned by Healthy Seas since the foundation began addressing the issue of “ghost farms” in 2021. It also represents a new type of challenge: unlike previous sites, which were mainly abandoned fish farms with floating rings and nets, this was an abandoned mussel farm, with different infrastructure and different types of debris.
The operation targeted plastic barrels, fishing nets, steel elements, and concrete blocks, including structures fixed to the seabed. The final material breakdown is:
- 7 tons of concrete & other construction materials
- 3 tons of plastic (barrels, boats and others)
- 8 tons of fishing nets
- 1 tons of metal
“After last year’s clean-up of a ghost farm in Methana, carried out together with the Decentralized Administration of Attica, we decided to collaborate again on the clean-up of this abandoned mussel farm in Salamina,” said Veronika Mikos, Director at Healthy Seas. “Together with our partners, we are removing waste from the sea and sending the material that can be recycled into the recycling stream.”
According to local accounts, the mussel farm had been abandoned for more than 15 years. Over time, abandoned aquaculture structures can break apart due to waves, salt water, and UV exposure, releasing plastics and other debris into the marine environment. In Salamina, much of the pollution was hidden below the surface. Beyond the environmental degradation, this infrastructure was for years a constant threat to human safety, while also acting as a barrier to local coastal-related economic activities.
“What we saw on the surface was not the full picture,” said Pascal van Erp, founder of Ghost Diving. “Most of the barrels were sunken, and we found much more on the seabed than expected. This was a different kind of aquaculture structure from what we are used to, with steel, concrete, nets, and static elements fixed to the bottom. It required a lot of adaptation and improvisation.”
The project also stood out for the strong involvement of local authorities and the community, who supported the operation with site knowledge, logistics, and on-the-ground coordination.
“We are collaborating with Healthy Seas because this is an outstanding initiative involving the removal of an old mussel farm from one of the most beautiful areas of our island, the bay of Agios Georgios in Steno,” said George Panagopoulos, Mayor of Salamina. “For us, the people of Salamina, the sea is part of our identity. Therefore, every effort that helps us clean and preserve the cleanliness of our seas is extremely important, and naturally, our municipality supports this initiative in every possible way.”
The recovered materials will now be assessed and sorted. Materials suitable for recycling will be directed to the appropriate recycling streams. The nylon fishing nets will be sent to Healthy Seas’ partner, Aquafil, to be processed together with other waste in their recycling system and become regenerated nylon for new products.
Notes to editors
About ghost farms
Ghost farms are abandoned aquaculture sites where structures such as nets, cages, pipes, barrels, buoys, ropes, concrete blocks, and other equipment are left behind in the marine environment. Over time, these materials can break apart, pollute coastlines and seabed, create hazards for marine life and navigation, and contribute to plastic pollution.
About Healthy Seas
Healthy Seas is a foundation dedicated to safeguarding the world’s oceans through clean-up, education, and prevention. Since 2013, Healthy Seas has worked with volunteer divers, educators, local communities, companies, and maritime stakeholders to recover fishing nets and other marine litter, while promoting ocean protection and circular economy solutions.
Healthy Seas media kit: https://www.healthyseas.org/assets/uploads/Press-Kit-3_2026.pdf
For media contact and media files:
Samara Croci, Communications Manager Healthy Seas Foundation, samara.croci[AT]healthyseas.org
Credits:
Surface pictures and videos: Healthy Seas Foundation
Underwater videos: Rogier Visser/Ghost Diving
Underwater pictures: Cor Kuyvenhoven/Ghost Diving
