Ghost Nets: An Invisible Threat in Urban Lakes
What Are Ghost Nets?
Ghost nets are fishing nets that have been lost, abandoned, or deliberately discarded in water bodies. Made largely of synthetic materials like nylon, these nets do not degrade easily. Instead, they remain underwater for years, continuing to trap and kill wildlife long after they are abandoned.
While ghost nets are widely recognised as a marine conservation issue, they are now an emerging threat in urban freshwater ecosystems, including city lakes.
Why Are Ghost Nets a Problem?
The danger of ghost nets lies in their invisibility and persistence.
Nearly transparent underwater, these nets act as unselective traps. Fish, birds, and reptiles become entangled, often drowning or dying from exhaustion. Their remains can then attract other animals, which in turn get trapped—creating a cycle known as ghost fishing.
Even when human activity stops, the net continues to kill.
Why Is the Ghost Net Problem Increasing?
Several urban factors have intensified the issue:
Durable materials: Older nets made of natural fibres degraded over time. Modern monofilament nylon nets are cheap, strong, and long-lasting.
Urban lake conditions: Construction debris, idol immersion remains, and dumped waste create uneven lakebeds. When nets snag, they are often cut loose and abandoned.
Altered hydrology: Many urban lakes now hold water year-round due to continuous inflows, allowing ghost nets to accumulate instead of being exposed and removed.
Unregulated fishing: Fishing in city lakes often occurs without oversight, increasing the likelihood of abandoned gear.
Why Is This a Problem in a City Like Bengaluru?
Urban lakes are shallow, enclosed, and heavily used by wildlife. Birds, turtles, and snakes rely on these limited water bodies for feeding and breeding.
Although restored lakes may look clean on the surface, ghost nets undermine these efforts from below—turning functional wetlands into hidden traps.
Impact on Urban Wildlife
- Diving waterbirds such as Indian Cormorants, Darters (Snakebirds), and Little Grebes dive to hunt and cannot detect nylon mesh underwater. Once entangled, they are unable to surface and drown. Even large birds like Spot-billed Pelicans have suffered injuries from these nets.
- Freshwater reptiles are frequent victims. Indian Flapshell Turtles, which must surface to breathe, panic when trapped and often drown. Checkered Keelbacks—non-venomous water snakes important for maintaining fish balance—are easily caught mid-swim.
- Ecosystem effects: As nets degrade, they fragment into microplastics, which enter the aquatic food web and persist in the environment.
How Can the Ghost Net Problem Be Addressed?
Surface clean-ups alone are not enough.
- Targeted net removal: Periodic underwater retrievals by trained swimmers or fishing communities are essential. Attempting to pull nets out without training is dangerous.
- Improved lake management: Removing submerged debris and creating clear fishing zones reduces snagging and abandonment.
- Net return and recycling: Incentivising fishermen to return damaged nets for recycling can prevent dumping.
What Can Citizens Do?
- Watch for plastic bottles floating oddly in the middle of lakes—often used as floats for illegal nets.
- Report suspected nets or hazards to lake authorities or local lake groups.
- If you see a bird or turtle struggling at the surface, do not intervene or throw stones—it is likely entangled.
- Call trained rescue teams immediately:
Avian and Reptile Rehabilitation Centre (ARRC): 9449642222
Early reporting saves lives.
Looking Beneath the Surface
Urban lakes are more than scenic spaces—they are living ecosystems. Ghost nets represent a form of invisible pollution that continues to cause harm even when a lake appears clean.
Addressing this issue requires vigilance, responsible management, and attention below the waterline. Only then can urban lakes remain safe habitats for wildlife rather than silent traps hidden from view.
Leave a Reply