To raise awareness of the negative impact ghost nets can have on the marine environment the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) is working with local Torres Strait artists to turn this harmful waste product into works of art and in turn educate about marine pollution.
Ghost nets are lost or abandoned fishing nets that have the potential to entangle marine life including fish, sea turtles and dolphins.
AFMA has recently commissioned ghost net artwork from Erub Arts for display in AFMA Thursday Island office.
With the significance of the crayfish, also known as kaiar, to the Indigenous communities in the Torres Strait and the economic importance of the Tropical Rock Lobster Fishery for the region a crayfish was the perfect choice.
Artist, Solomon Charlie recently completed the artwork entitled ‘Crayfish’ after beginning in October 2016.
Erub Arts artist Solomon Charlie with ghostnet artwork ‘Crayfish’
AFMA’s CEO Dr James Findlay said creating artwork that will take pride of place in AFMA offices from ghost nets has an opportunity to start a conversation about marine pollution.
“Ghost nets are largely found in Australia’s northern waters after they have drifted in from foreign fishers operating further to the north” Dr Findlay said.
“Their impact on marine life can be devastating and AFMA works closely with other government agencies and the community, to detect and retrieve them.
“Recently we have begun providing recovered ghost nets to national galleries and indigenous art centres as creative way to tell the story of their impact on the marine environment.”
Artist Solomon Charlie said he was excited for the creative opportunity to create a tropical rock lobster and agrees there is a need to raise awareness about the damage abandoned fishing gear can cause.
“Fishing is the lifeblood of Torres Strait communities and to see marine life killed by discarded fishing gear is infuriating and upsetting,” Mr Charlie said.
“I hope this crayfish and other artwork made from retrieved nets can raise awareness around this issue of ghost nets and encourage people to act when they see one.”
The ‘Crayfish’ is one of four AFMA commissioned pieces to take ghost nets and create artistic representations of the marine life they threaten.
If you or someone you know sighted a ghost net in Australian waters, please contact Australian Border Force’s (ABF) Border Watch on 1800 009 623.
For more information on Australia’s fisheries management, please visit afma.gov.au.
If you are looking for more information on Torres Strait Islander art visit erubarts.com.au.