OceanEarth Foundation, on behalf of its GhostNets Australia program, has welcomed the Australian Government’s renewed commitment to fund Indigenous Ranger groups to continue removing ghost nets and other marine debris from northern Australia’s remote coastlines through the continuation of the Ghost Nets Initiative.
Budget documents, released today, announced an expansion to the previous program, with $25.1 million over the next four years, thus expanding the Initiative to other coastal areas around Western Australia, the Torres Strait and the Arafura and Timor seas.
Managing Director Anissa Lawrence said the announcement reflects an important recognition of the essential role Rangers play in protecting Sea Country, safeguarding marine life, and maintaining Australia’s first line of defence against ghost nets – abandoned, lost or discard fishing gear.
“For more than 20 years, our GhostNets Australia program has supported Indigenous-led solutions to the ghost nets crisis,” Ms Lawrence said.
“This continued funding ensures Rangers can remain on Country, doing the highly skilled, labour-intensive work of locating, removing and tracing the deadly fishing gear that continues to wash ashore.”
To date, through the Australian Government Ghost Nets Initiative, 24 Ranger groups and nine coordinators have been supported to patrol thousands of kilometres of remote coastline, removing more than 800 ghost nets and over 140,000 kg of marine debris since 2021. These efforts have also helped to safeguard marine life and Sea Country, while supporting local employment and cultural connection. Today’s announcement offers the opportunity to expand these efforts into Western Australia and the Torres Strait.
Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation, who delivers the Ranger program on Yol?u country of northeast Arnhem Land, welcomed the announcement. Executive Officer Stephina Salee said, “This funding gives our Rangers the certainty and support they need to continue caring for Sea Country and responding to the continuous threat of ghost nets and marine debris along our coastline.
“Ghost nets are dangerous for turtles, dugongs and other marine species that are central to our culture,” she continued.
“This funding recognises the scale of the problem and the vital role Indigenous Rangers play in protecting marine environment. With a four-year funding commitment we can keep creating jobs, building skills and looking after Country for future generations”
The expanded commitment to address ghost nets across the Arafura and Timor Seas reflects a growing recognition that the issue must be addressed and move beyond ongoing cleanups and include efforts to “turn off the tap” at the source.
Ms Lawrence said the regional expansion supports a system-wide approach that OceanEarth Foundation has worked closely with government and partners to progress over recent years, demonstrating how long-term change can be achieved when prevention and clean-up efforts are designed to operate together. “If we want to move beyond perpetual clean-ups and towards meaningful transformation, we need approaches that operate at system scale, alongside ongoing investment in frontline action. This commitment ensures that source-based solutions and on-ground action can continue in parallel, as they must.”
“The continuation and expansion of funding also preserves the technological advancements and capability built under the Initiative, including drone monitoring, the Ranger App, and world-leading debris tracking systems that help trace ghost nets back to their origins and inform international prevention efforts,” she said.
Australian Marine Conservation Society Plastics Campaign Manager, Cip Hamilton welcomed the expanded commitment, saying that the funding boost and broader coastal coverage were a vital step forward.
“This $25.1 million investment over four years is a strong and welcome commitment that will help detect, remove and dispose of deadly ghost nets and other marine debris across a wider stretch of northern Australia.
“The expansion of the Initiative into more coastal areas is critical to protect marine life and support Indigenous Rangers who are on the frontline of tackling plastic pollution.
“However, unnecessary delays over the past six months left Rangers and supporting organisations in limbo, unsure whether this critical work could continue. That uncertainty should never be repeated.
“Until global solutions are achieved, including a strong and binding Global Plastics Treaty, ongoing government support is essential to stop ghost nets and other plastic pollution from continuing to threaten marine species and wash up on these once-pristine coastlines.”
Sea Shepherd Australia also acknowledged the importance of continued support. Remote Marine Debris Campaigner Grahame Lloyd emphasised that the relentless arrival of ghost nets and debris from domestic and international sources means the work of Rangers cannot pause without consequences for marine wildlife. Their presence on Country provides rapid response capability in areas where no other teams operate.
“Today’s announcement helps ensure that decades of local knowledge, capability and community-led innovation are not lost,” Ms Lawrence continued.
“Rangers are not just cleaning up our coastline – they’re contributing data that supports global solutions, strengthening remote livelihoods, and protecting one of the world’s most ecologically important marine regions.”
All four organisations look forward to continuing their partnership with the Indigenous Ranger groups, each other and the Australian Government to secure long-term solutions to ghost gear and marine debris.
Established in 2008, OceanEarth Foundation (formerly TierraMar) is an Australian-based charity that aims to build a future where people and nature thrive. A world where both our planet and its inhabitants flourish; a future where prosperity is shared by economies and environments. Our mission is to build resilient communities and reverse nature loss by helping to unlock transformational change.
The foundation of our work rests on empowering local people to become informed decision-makers and active champions of change within their communities. Through collective effort, across Australia, the Pacific and Coral Triangle, we are nurturing a future where humanity and the natural world are harmoniously connected.
Harnessing innovative thinking, dynamic collaborations, and nurturing the changemakers of tomorrow, OceanEarth Foundations’ holistic solutions are delivered through three strategic programs: Oceans – building resilient oceans for people and nature; Earth – building climate resilient communities through nature-based solutions; and GenerationNature+ – rebuilding foundations for positive impact for our OceanEarth.
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