GhostNet 2007

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GhostNet Debris-tracking Buoys Deployed

The first four Ghostnet debris-tracking buoys have been deployed in
the open ocean under the Ghostnet Volunteer Ship program. The program
is run by Airborne Technologies of Wasilla, Alaska with support from NOAA Fisheries (SWFSC and PIFSC), NOAA Research, and NOAA Satellites and Information.

Captain Charles Moore of the RV Alguita (Algalita Marine Research
Foundation) was supplied with the tracking buoys and the likely
locations of debris before he left port for a cruise to the area of
the Northeastern Pacific Ocean commonly known as “the Eastern Garbage
Patch”. The likely locations of debris were identified from NOAA and
NASA satellite data supplied by Live Access Servers at the
Environmental Research Division of the Southwest Fisheries Science
Center. Updates on oceanic and atmospheric conditions in the area of
interest were transmitted to RV Alguita via satellite telephone
throughout the survey in order to optimize sampling efforts.

The tagged nets will be monitored until they can be removed from the
ocean; comparison of the actual movements with environmental
conditions derived from models and satellite data will allow the
refinement of debris transport models in aid of eventual removal of
the debris before it threatens essential coastal marine habitat and
safe navigation.

GhostNet Research featured in Alaska Journal

Web posted Sunday, June 5, 2005
Alaska firm goes high-tech hunting for lost fishing nets
By Bob Tkacz
For the Journal

An Alaska technology company is working with a federal agency in an effort to remove an environmentally dangerous and costly problem from the Pacific Ocean: abandoned or lost fishing nets, known as ghostnets.

Using satellite monitors that track marker buoys attached to ghost fishing nets, Wasilla-based Airborne Technologies Inc. and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are working to find these ghostnets so they can be properly disposed. [read more >]

GhostNet Timeline

During the months of March and April 2005 the GhostNet team flew a series of survey flights in the North Pacific in an effort to detect and map marine debris. Following specific routes described by evaluating satellite data, the remote sensing equipment installed on a NOAA P3 aircraft was able to detect and image over 2000 pieces of debris including 100 net or net pieces.

Now that an accurate detection and tracking method has been proven, net removal at sea could take place within the next year.