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1% for the Planet

Cleaning up abandoned fishing nets in the Mediterranean

NaturDive

<div>A new closed-circuit mission, to land a deep net. This time in Cannes, on a calm sea with no current, but don't be fooled by the sunny sky: at 100 meters, total darkness reigns. <br><br>This intervention was carried out following a tip-off from the artisan fisherman, who took part in the recovery of the net on the surface. <br>Thanks to our partners who make this action possible!<br><br>
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Diving in the dark: a net recovered at 100 metres!

<div>Dear Difteurs,<br><br>In early October, we spent 4 days in the Natura 2000 area of Cap Ferrat on a major pollution clean-up mission: the removal of old fishing nets lost in coralligenous areas. Thanks to 18 hours of diving dedicated to prospecting and removal, we were able to extract 17 old nets, representing a cumulative length of almost 1 kilometer. This operation restored around 1,250 m² of sensitive habitat, located at depths of between 20 and 40 meters.<br><br>
</div><div>This mission would not have been possible without the invaluable collaboration of the artisan fisherman from Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, who helped us with the surface recovery.<br><br>Thank you to everyone who supports us and makes these actions possible!<br><br><br><br>
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Mission Cap Ferrat: 17 ghost nets removed!

<div>Dear Difteurs,</div><br><div>Removing a fishing net hanging at a depth of 80 meters is no trivial operation. Last July, off Cap d'Antibes, despite a strong current and intense nautical activity, we carried out this closed-circuit deep-diving operation in complete safety.</div><br><div>This success we also owe to the responsiveness and involvement of the artisanal fisherman concerned, who immediately reported the loss and actively collaborated during the surface recovery.</div><br><div>A fine example of effective cooperation to protect our seabed!</div>

80 metres down, a fishing net successfully removed!

<div>Dear difteur-ses,</div><br><div>A new ghost net was reported by divers... and we were able to react quickly! </div><br><div>Although small in size, this nylon net covered a magnificent area of coralligenous, rich in gorgonians and red coral. Our divers spent time freeing each trapped individual - and the habitat can finally breathe again!</div><br><div>Another step forward for the DéFi-Méd project in June, this time on the surface: our boat, Le Cap Corse, classified as a Bateau d'Intérêt Patrimonial, has benefited from several technical improvements, including the installation of a solar panel. Little by little, we're preparing her for her future missions, which will take her to Corsica and the Var!</div><br><div>Thank you for your support 🙏</div><div>The NaturDive team</div>

Progress for the DéFi-Méd project!

<div>Dear Difteur-ses,</div><br><div>Between April and May, we removed <strong>11 lost fishing nets</strong>! Specifically:</div><div>- <strong>4 nets</strong> on the Natura 2000 site <em>"Baie et Cap d'Antibes - Îles de Lérins"</em>
</div><div>- <strong>3 nets</strong> in Nice, in the <em>Rauba Capeu</em> area.
</div><div>- <strong>3 nets</strong> in the <em>Parc maritime départemental Estérel-Théoule</em>
</div><div>- <strong>1 net</strong> on the Natura 2000 site <em>"Cap Ferrat"</em>
</div><div> </div><div>Whether cotton or nylon, these old fishing nets continue to pose a threat to marine ecosystems. Their removal is therefore essential to preserve biodiversity.</div><div> </div><div>We would like to thank the artisanal fishermen who are accompanying us in this process.</div><div> </div><div>A big <strong>THANK YOU</strong> for your support!</div>

We're underwater, and the DéFi-Méd project is moving forward!

<div>Dear difteurs,</div><br><div>Despite capricious weather that has complicated our dives over the past few months, we're delighted to announce a major milestone for our DéFi-Méd project! Thanks to your invaluable support, we've reached a decisive milestone, carrying out a <strong>first mission in the Var</strong>!</div><br><div>We had obtained a great deal of information on the areas to prospect following our meeting with the prud'homie of <strong>Saint-Raphaël</strong>, so last week we set off for the Var to prospect the waters of Agay. </div><br><div>Finally, <strong>three fishing nets abandoned on the coralligenous were removed</strong>. </div><div>We have already scheduled the next mission in a few weeks' time to continue the prospecting and clean-up.</div><br><div><strong>Thank you for your support 🙏</strong></div>

A new stage for DéFi-Méd!

<div>Dear donors,</div><br><div>Thanks to your difts, the <strong>project</strong> <strong>DeFi-Med</strong> has been able to last another year! In 2024, we continued the search for ghost nets, carried out their removal and strengthened our collaboration with artisanal fishermen.</div><br><div>No less than <strong>72 hectares of seabed were prospected</strong>, mainly in Protected Marine Areas in the Alpes-Maritimes! These long prospecting dives enabled us to identify <strong>29 ghost nets.</strong>
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<strong>14 nets were able to be removed</strong>, corresponding to a surface area of <strong>2840 m²</strong> of sensitive habitats that will be able to regenerate, and the depollution of <strong>1.6 Km</strong> of plastic material.</div><br><div>
<strong>Since 2020</strong>, the project has resulted in the removal of <strong>60 nets</strong>: a total length of 5 Km and a total surface area of 1.5 hectares!</div><br><div>A big thank you to you, dear supporters, for your support, without which none of this would be possible<strong> 🙏</strong>.
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<strong>In 2025, the adventure continues</strong> with ever greater ambitions, in the Marine Protected Areas of Var, Corsica and Alpes-Maritimes! We'll be back shortly with the program for this new year. 💙</div><br><div>The NaturDive team</div>

Review 2024!

<div>Dear difteurs,</div><br><div>Thanks to your difts, we were able to carry out a <strong>new prospecting campaign in Marine Protected Areas</strong>!</div><br><div>To find old abandoned fishing nets (which continue to pollute), underwater scooter prospecting missions remain our main means of action. </div><br><div>In July and November 2024, our divers prospected new areas of coralligenous to <strong>50m depth</strong>, in the Estérel-Théoule departmental maritime park and in the Cap d'Ail fishing cantonment. </div><div>For the few fishing gears identified, depending on our assessment, the necessary measures will be taken for their removal and the depollution of the seabed.</div><br><div><strong>Thank you for your support 🙏</strong></div>

New prospecting campaign in Marine Protected Areas!

<div>Dear difteurs, thanks to your difts, the project is growing! <br><br>In addition to the Alpes-Maritimes, ghost net removal will take place in <strong>the Var and Corsica</strong>, again in collaboration with artisan fishermen. <br><br>And for this expansion, we've renovated an <strong>old wooden tugboat</strong> that was due for the scrap heap! Thousands of hours of work this summer were necessary to make this heritage vessel operational, which will be back in service for the <strong>preservation of the marine environment</strong>. <br><br>A big thank you to all of you! </div>

A new vessel for project expansion!

<div>Since the beginning of the year and thanks to the reports of several fishermen and divers, we have been able to <strong>remove 6 ghost nets</strong> at depths of up to 60 meters, mainly around Cannes. That's 1.3 km less net on sensitive habitats such as coralligenous and posidonia. For some of these nets, we intervened to help artisanal fishermen unhook or find their nets. A great synergy between fishermen and divers, aimed at reducing the impact of our respective activities on the marine environment.<br><br>In July, a major <strong>phase of prospecting took place in the Cap d'Ail reserve and the Théoule-Sur-Mer Marine Park</strong>. Several hours were spent criss-crossing the seabed, identifying around twenty nets that will soon be removed. <br><br>All these interventions have helped reduce the impact of fishing nets on marine ecosystems. These actions are crucial for the <strong>preservation of marine biodiversity</strong> and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the protection of marine ecosystems, in <strong>collaboration with local stakeholders</strong>.<br><br><strong>We would like to thank you for your unconditional support! </strong>
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What's happened since the beginning of the year?

<div>In 2023, your support enabled us to carry out diving surveys over a total surface area of 127 ha! <br>50 abandoned nets were identified.<br>We were able to remove 15 nets as a priority, representing a total length of 1,450 m and a total surface area of 3,700 m²! These are mainly coralligenous reefs that have been cleaned up and will be able to regenerate.<br>These actions would not have been possible without your support and we thank you.<br>In 2024, the project continues...</div>

Bilan 2023!

<div>The year 2023 came to a close with the removal of two old nets on Cap d'Antibes. The coralligenous reefs thus freed up will be able to regenerate.<br>Over 2023, a huge amount of work has been achieved thanks to your donations... follow the project news for an update soon!! </div>

To end 2023 on a high note!

<div>Capricious weather dragged this fishing net onto the Enfer de Dente in Golfe-Juan, a fragile site renowned for its gorgonian-rich coralligenous zone. Quickly alerted by the fisherman, we intervened to help remove the net and minimize its impact. Several gorgonians were replanted on site, and the small lobsters were returned to the water.<br>A fine example of fishermen and divers working together to reduce the impact of our respective activities.</div>

Reacting quickly to minimize the impact of fishing nets

<div>In October, we were commissioned by the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departement06?__cft__[0]=AZWJs84sF10WdXOZNy_Oa5DNJ99BBKRwb6xSJnSiDHnrkSRu7GhJEApkoPBuwcUrNdpwJJZEE2D559UE4MmeL19MX1HI6qOmbMgLRHWqishFCWgPKwhvG6qshPkpriLSZvlTN2gy6Diicrt2L_b5FwvVHCUvd_Q16HAtK8MP0M25VUVHFG4z3w3O-wG4GTOSMCM&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Département des Alpes-Maritimes</a> to record lost nets in the Natura 2000 area of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, between Monaco and Italy.<br>Our divers spent long hours diving, covering more than 10 km using underwater scooters!<br>These surveys are essential to assess and prepare for future dives to remove these nets.</div>

Prospecting between Monaco and Italy

<div>Contacted by a fisherman, we set off to help him retrieve his net hanging on the bottom at the mouth of the Var river. What a surprise when we found ourselves in front of a huge tree planted vertically at a depth of 30m, the net caught in its branches! An unreal dive! The tree must have been swept down there during the storm Alex of 2020, which devastated the Vésubie valley!<br><br>We were able to unhook the net, which was then hauled up by the fisherman. <br><br>A fine example of collaboration to reduce the impact of fishing on the marine environment.</div>

A net... in a tree!

<div>The month of July was marked by a major prospection phase in the Estérel-Théoule Marine Park. Long hours spent criss-crossing the seabed in search of abandoned nets. Around twenty small nets were identified, and will be removed shortly.</div>

Prospecting in July

<div>7 nets have been removed from our bottoms in the Antibes, Cannes and Iles de Lérins Natura 2000 zone! <br>A total of 1100 m and 2300 m2 less nets! Cleaned coralligenous reefs that will be able to regenerate themselves!<br>Thank you for your support 🙏</div>

An intense June for our divers!

<div>An intense week for our divers with the removal of 3 fishing nets in the Natura 2000 area Antibes, Cannes and Îles de Lérins:</div> - an old net on Cap d'Antibes (Grand Boule site) at a depth of 30 meters, - a small net on Ile Sainte Marguerite (Batéguier site) at a depth of 25 meters, - an 800-meter-long net at a depth of 50 meters on Cap d'Antibes (Calafate site), which was brought to our attention by a fisherman who had lost it.Thank you so much for your support!

Withdrawal of 3 nets in the Natura 2000 area Antibes, Cannes and Îles de Lérins

<div>During the month of May, we tested new tools for locating ghost nets, such as this small underwater robot controlled from the surface (ROV - Remotely Operated underwater Vehicle) and capable of descending to a depth of 100m.<br>After removing 10 nets last year, let's hope these new tools can help us reach our goal of removing 30 nets this year 💪</div>

A new tool for net prospecting

<div>The beginning of the year was marked by numerous prospecting dives in the Cannes and Antibes area in search of lost nets. A few old nets were spotted and will be removed shortly.<br>In March, the first net of the year was removed from the seabed.<br><br>In the coming months, removal operations will accelerate... thanks to your support for our actions to preserve our oceans!</div>

One less net!

<div>Between the search for funding and technical preparations, we're getting ready to attack the search for nets in the coming weeks. An important element of the project, we have invested in a more efficient vessel: the Kraken!</div>

Cleaning up abandoned fishing nets in the Mediterranean

The project

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