Ghost Farms:

Abandoned fish farms, also known as 'ghost farms', are aquaculture sites left to decay in the sea after they are abandoned or no longer in use. These once-productive facilities become environmental hazards as their structures deteriorate and release debris, plastic, and pollutants into the surrounding waters . This pollution disrupts marine ecosystems, causing harm to underwater flora and fauna, and creating hazardous conditions for marine life through "ghost fishing"—where abandoned equipment continues to entangle and kill sea creatures. The environmental degradation extends to habitat destruction and affects the local economy by impacting coastal communities, fisheries and tourism. Since 2019, Healthy Seas has focused on addressing this critical issue, having initiated major cleanup operations in Greece in 2021 and 2022

. In 2024, we launched a larger-scale operation called Ghost Farms: Reclaiming Waters targeting multiple sites across the western region of Greece. Our approach involves mapping abandoned fish farms, collaborating with stakeholders, and engaging in extensive cleanup efforts to restore these marine environments. All collected waste from these massive clean-ups is recycled either locally or, in the case of fish farming nets, through our founding partner Aquafil. Aquafil employs an innovative recycling process that transforms nylon waste—including these nets—into new, high-quality nylon for a range of products. By tackling ghost farms, we aim to rejuvenate local ecosystems, support affected communities, and raise awareness of the broader environmental impact.