Protecting the Seas, Transforming Marine Litter

Join Our Journey for Cleaner,
Healthier Seas.

Credits: Healthy Seas

Our Mission

Healthy Seas is a foundation committed to removing marine litter, especially fishing nets, to foster healthier seas and repurpose waste into innovative products.

WE WORK with innovative partners and global collaborators to create a cleaner, more vibrant marine ecosystem. WE FIGHT marine litter and ghost nets, to ensure that our oceans remain a safe haven for marine life and a source of
beauty and inspiration for future generations. WE CHALLENGE the apathy and blindness that allow marine litter to persist. WE RESTORE AND PROTECT the health of our oceans by removing harmful marine litter and transforming it into sustainable products with our partners.

Why now

“If we don’t act now, by 2050 there could be more plastic than fish in the oceans.”

Ellen MacArthur Foundation

640.000 tons/year

Approximately 640.000 tons of fishing gear are lost or abandoned in the ocean each year
UNEP/FAO 2009.

75% of plastic from fishing

Over 75% of plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch originates from fishing
The Ocean Cleanup 2024

500 species affected

More than 500 species of marine and coastal animals are affected by ingestion of, or entanglement in, marine debris, including ghost nets
UNEP 2016

Explore our areas of action

Clean-ups
Credits: Cor Kuyvenhoven

Clean-ups

We have conducted clean-up operations from the depths of historical shipwrecks to abandoned fish farms and even a UNESCO-protected lake, always removing marine litter of all kinds, including ghost nets and ghost gear, and documenting the entanglement of marine life in them.

Nothing stops the brave team of volunteer divers from Ghost Diving, a founding partner of Healthy Seas, who operate all over the world

Our clean-up initiatives also extend beyond the depths to encompass coastal areas, where we engage the public and frequently collaborate with schools.

Education
Credits: Copyright_Carlino Photo

Education

In 2023 alone, nearly 15,000 individuals participated in almost 60 educational events organized by Healthy Seas’ dedicated team.

These events, held in collaboration with schools and the public, raise awareness about marine litter, climate change, marine animals, the circular economy, and sustainable consumption.

Participants learn about the impact of entanglement in fishing nets on marine life and experience our virtual reality simulation, immersing themselves as divers on a mission to clean a shipwreck from fishing nets.

Prevention
Credits: Healthy Seas

Prevention

To truly protect our oceans, we must not only clean up but also close the tap on marine litter.

Our collaboration with the fishing industry is crucial for improving waste management processes.

By working closely with fisherman communities, harbor authorities, and the fish farming industry, we strive to recover old nets, recycle them, and educate industry stakeholders on best practices for net use and disposal.

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Our impact in 2023

Download our 2023 report

Hear from Our Partners

Giulio Bonazzi

CEO of Aquafil

"We are partnering with Healthy Seas because it's important to understand that we have problems that we can solve, and through our partnership, fishing nets can become an opportunity, if we treat them properly."

Simone Brandes

Head of CSR, DWS Group

"From the very beginning of our partnership, the personal relationship has been a very special one and it’s just fantastic to see how passionate and with all the energy Healthy Seas is pursuing their goals."

Adriana Cerami

Head of Corporate & Brand PR, Hyundai Motor Europe

"What I really loved about celebrating the 10th Year Anniversary of Healthy Seas is to get together with other partners to see the kind of big community that we've grown to. And I have my fingers crossed for 10 years more to come."

Filippo Antoniello

Global Consumer Marketing Manager, Arena

"Sometimes it sounds simpler than what it is. You need skilled divers with special equipment, a lot of preparation and coordination and the specific industrial machinery for recycling. When you see and understand all the process, you really realize how complex and amazing is this organization."

Join Us in Making Waves for Marine Protection and against Marine Litter

Latest news

Healthy Seas Welcomes Second Ascent: Bridging Peaks and Depths for a Cleaner Planet
6 November 2024
The Healthy Seas Foundation and Partners Collect 50 Containers of Marine Litter in Six Days in Final 2024 Operation Ghost Farms Clean-Up
5 November 2024
Unlocking the Ocean’s Secrets with NatureMetrics: How eDNA is Revolutionizing Marine Conservation
Empowering Teams for Change: Beach Clean-up in Hong Kong with Healthy Seas and DWS
28 October 2024
Innovating for a Sustainable Future: Diopas Leads the Way in Net Production and Recycling
10 October 2024
Healthy Seas and Chaint Afrique Lead a Successful Cleanup at Ghana’s Most Polluted Estuary
30 September 2024