The target location is one mile off the coast at a depth of approximately 80 feet. The dive team comprised of volunteer divers from Orange, Los Angeles, and San Diego Counties. Ghost nets are literal deathtraps for marine life such as whales, dolphins, fish, sea lions, and seals, and harm regional ocean ecology.  ODA will operate their 40-foot vessel the Clearwater and use dive equipment generously donated by L.A. Scuba Diving (a local dive training company).

In September local divers spotted ghost nets on the barge and immediately contacted ODA via the Report Debris form on their website.  Later on a reconnaissance dive, ODA’s team confirmed the nets and observed a dead lingcod fish entangled in the netting. Lingcod, weighing up to 130 pounds, are prized by anglers. “Ghost nets also put recreational divers at risk,” says Kurt Lieber, President & Founder of ODA, “It is imperative to remove such netting to make the area safe, allow marine species to rebound, and reduce damage to surrounding marine ecosystems.”

Founded in 2000 and based in Orange County, California, Ocean Defenders Alliance (ODA) is a marine conservation organization, and became a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2002.
ODA works to clean and protect marine ecosystems through documentation, education, and meaningful action. Working with affected communities, we focus on the reduction and removal of man-made debris that poses serious threats to ocean wildlife and habitats.  ODA has removed over 13,000 pounds of abandoned fishing net to date.

More information on Ocean Defenders Alliance can be found at www.oceandefenders.org.

To obtain photos/video or to join the half-day expedition,

call (714) 875-5881 or email kurt@oceandefenders.org.

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