Launched in June 2025, Fish Net Zero is the Green Britain Foundation’s new marine conservation programme, recovering abandoned fishing gear, freeing entangled wildlife and protecting marine ecosystems around the UK.
Launch date: 1 June 2025
Base of operations: Nemesis (Grimsby, North Sea) and Banshee (Inverkip, Firth of Clyde)
In June 2025, the Green Britain Foundation launched Fish Net Zero, a new marine conservation programme dedicated to tackling one of the most persistent threats to our oceans: Abandoned, Lost or Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG), also known as ghost gear.
Our mission is to recover this material from the seabed and coastline, free entangled wildlife, and support wider restoration and reuse efforts.
Although the project began just before the end of the 2024–2025 financial year, we have already laid the groundwork for a highly active and impactful first full year.
Since launch, Fish Net Zero has:
Conducted multiple ghost gear recovery dives on wreck sites previously untouched by other organisations.
Released marine wildlife entangled in ghost gear on every dive to date.
Built a team of 45 volunteers, including 22 trained divers and 23 operational crew.
Deployed two dedicated vessels, Nemesis and Banshee, to cover both offshore and inshore missions.
Generated early public engagement with over 1,500 views of our launch video.
These achievements were made possible through the support of the Green Britain Foundation and the contributions of our early partners.
Our primary recovery vessel, Nemesis, is a 16-metre former patrol boat built by Austal and based in Grimsby. Capable of speeds up to 28 knots and accommodating a team of 12, Nemesis is the backbone of our offshore operations in the North Sea.
Equipped with a heavy-duty crane for lifting large fishing gear (pots, creels and netting) and a powerful winch for deep-water recovery, she is uniquely suited for demanding ghost gear missions.
A typical mission crew includes six divers, four operational crew and a skipper, enabling efficient multi-dive operations. Thanks to her speed, range and onboard facilities, Nemesis can access remote wreck sites, remain at sea for full weekends, and increase dive capacity by at least 50% compared with day-boat operations.
Looking ahead, her role will expand to include monitoring Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and supporting marine research missions, strengthening our contribution to conservation and biodiversity monitoring.
Our RIB Banshee, a Humber Ocean Pro 6.8-metre vessel based in Inverkip, provides agility and rapid response.
Unlike Nemesis, Banshee allows us to:
Respond quickly to ghost gear reports, including evening recovery dives.
Reach shallow and nearshore areas inaccessible to larger vessels.
Access remote beaches for clean-up operations where no road access exists.
Begin research in support of seagrass bed protection and monitoring.
Seagrass beds are critically important ecosystems — they stabilise sediments, improve water quality, support biodiversity, and store carbon up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests.
In addition to core support from GBF, Fish Net Zero has secured early backing from:
Raymarine UK, for marine navigation and electronics.
Tecline, for diving equipment and safety support.
CCL Fleet Management Ltd, for logistical and operational assistance.
These partnerships have allowed us to mobilise rapidly, ensuring both vessels are operational and all volunteers are properly trained and equipped.
Recruitment of divers in northern England, where Nemesis is based, has been an early challenge. To address this, we are introducing regionally focused training courses and outreach initiatives to increase participation.
Ghost gear recovery is complex and physically demanding. The team continues to refine dive procedures, improve safety protocols and strengthen coordination to ensure operations remain efficient, effective and safe.
Funding from the Green Britain Foundation has been used to:
Prepare and outfit Nemesis and Banshee for operational use.
Recruit and onboard the first cohort of divers and crew.
Support initial dive operations and volunteer training.
Establish planning systems, safety procedures and communications infrastructure.
These investments have created a scalable and sustainable foundation for long-term marine recovery work.
The coming year will be the programme’s first full operational cycle. Key objectives include:
Completing 50 or more ghost gear recovery dives at both wreck and inshore sites.
Expanding the volunteer base, with emphasis on recruiting divers in northern England.
Launching a beach cleaning programme targeting inaccessible coastal areas using Banshee.
Beginning seagrass bed research and monitoring.
Producing educational and outreach content using footage from dive missions.
Collaborating with Project One Wave and others to advance gear recycling and reuse.
Supporting GBF campaigns through data, imagery and evidence from the field.
Engaging with government and NGOs to tackle ALDFG at a national level.
The early benefits of Fish Net Zero are already visible:
Marine wildlife is released from entanglement on every dive, often from gear that has been on the seabed for years.
Volunteers gain skills, confidence and purpose through hands-on environmental action.
The public benefits from cleaner seas, stronger awareness and better data to inform marine policy.
The wider conservation sector benefits from shared research findings and operational insights.
We thank the Green Britain Foundation for making this work possible, and our partners Raymarine UK, Tecline, and CCL Fleet Management Ltd for their generous support of time, expertise and resources.
Though newly launched, Fish Net Zero is already making an impact. With two operational vessels, 45 volunteers and a clear mission, we are committed to protecting marine life, recovering dangerous waste, and helping Britain’s seas thrive once more.
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