Two Slipper Lobsters Saved From Ghost Nets During Żibel’s Latest Operation
Two slipper lobsters were saved from a network of ghost nets during local NGO Żibel’s latest operation.
The beloved Maltese organisation recently shared photos of the weird and wonderful creatures, following the intricate rescue.
Żibel has been working with the British High Commission Malta to remove as many ghost nets from the islands’ seas as possible – and they’ve been doing so for two months now.
And beyond Malta’s reefs, Żibel has also ended up rescuing some lesser-known underwater fauna like the slipper lobsters in the process.
“Aside from being made of plastic, a ghost net is a discarded fishing net that continues to catch and kill marine life, sometimes for years, even after it has been abandoned,” Żibel told Lovin Malta, explaining why a project like this is so important.
“Ghost nets are a major threat to marine ecosystems and can have devastating effects on local fish populations.”
Between October and November last year, Żibel conducted a whopping 10 missions, collecting 14 discarded nets and four abandoned octopus traps from Malta’s reefs.
2023 is promising even more incredible initiatives, with Żibel’s Project Retrieve set to mostly focus on Gozo’s Coastline.
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