Ghost nets retrieved in the Top End

A number of marine animals were found deceased recently in two ghost nets retrieved approximately 40 nautical miles north of the Tiwi Islands and 190 nautical miles north west of Darwin respectively.

The ghost nets were spotted by a Dash-8 aircraft as part of regular surveillance by Maritime Border Command (MBC).

HMAS Ararat retrieved the ghost nets, which contained dead marine species, including three dolphins, three skeletons believed to be from dolphins, two turtles, nine Blacktip reef sharks, one crab and a number of small reef fish.

The nets, one weighing approximately 2.1 tonnes and the other approximately 3.6 tonnes were taken to Darwin to be disposed of by AFMA.