According to the latest data from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), an estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the ocean globally each year, among which abandoned fishing nets are one of the most lethal forms of plastic pollution. A Plastic Ocean Foundation's #OneTonBeachClean initiative aims to remove sunken "ghost nets" from the seabed, addressing the deadly threat these discarded fishing nets pose to coral communities. During the past diving season, their team successfully cleared over 4.5 metric tons of ghost nets, including 2.4 metric tons removed in the 2023–24 period and an additional 2.18 metric tons cleared between September 2024 and April 2025.
The work of A Plastic Ocean Foundation extends beyond cleanup to active ecological restoration. Following the removal of ghost nets, the team conducts follow-up coral rescue operations. Using the innovative EcoShellBase (ESB) technology, broken coral fragments are transplanted onto bases made from oyster shells, providing a stable foundation for the regeneration of these coral fragments. A Plastic Ocean Foundation also organizes educational workshops, inviting students to create ESB coral bases by hand, thereby imparting knowledge and a sense of responsibility for marine conservation to the next generation. The foundation is dedicated to rebuilding a vibrant and thriving marine ecosystem.
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