Every year, a horrifying 640,000 tons of deadly fishing gear are left to rot in our oceans, turning them into underwater minefields for marine life. These "ghost nets" and discarded fishing traps, once carelessly abandoned, continue their deadly mission, silently strangling sea creatures and wreaking havoc on fragile marine ecosystems.

But what if this deadly debris could be given a second chance—not to kill, but to save lives? That's exactly what’s happening, thanks to a groundbreaking collaboration between Sea Shepherd and iMilani.

Our crew aboard the Sea Eagle and Conrad have been waging war against illegal fishing in the Mediterranean, pulling in tons of these killer nets and traps that once threatened everything from sea turtles to endangered sharks. Working side by side with the Italian Coast Guard, we've recovered a staggering amount of illegal fishing gear—gear that could have continued its deadly work if not for our intervention.

But our mission goes beyond just removing these hazards from the ocean. In partnership with iMilani, a family-owned company in Vicenza, Italy, we've developed a way to repurpose this harmful debris into Sea Turtle Crates—innovative containers designed to safely transport and rehabilitate injured sea turtles. These crates, made from the very nets and traps that once endangered marine life, are now a crucial tool in our rescue operations.

Each Sea Turtle Crate is made from 8.6 kg of plastic marine debris, primarily composed of the very FADs and nets that once posed a threat to octopus, sea turtles, sharks, rays, and other marine wildlife. These crates are now an essential tool onboard all Sea Shepherd vessels, as well as Coast Guard and Guardia di Finanza ships, playing a crucial role in our rescue missions. To date, iMilani has processed nearly 4,000 kg of plastic fishing gear recovered by Sea Shepherd, potentially creating more than 450 of these life-saving crates. And this year, iMilani has completely covered the costs of dock loading, transporting, and storing the confiscated fishing gear.

The Recycling Process Explained

The process begins with the careful collection of abandoned fishing gear by our dedicated crews. Once retrieved, this gear is transported to iMilani's facility, where it undergoes a meticulous recycling process. The material is cleaned, shredded, thickened, and reprocessed without the addition of any harmful additives. This approach ensures that the final product, the Sea Turtle Crate, is made entirely from recycled polymers instead of raw materials, adhering to the ‘Plastics Second Life’ certification standards. These crates are foldable, durable, and fully recyclable, embodying the principles of a circular economy.By turning dangerous marine debris into tools that save marine life, the Sea Turtle Crates project is just one example of how sustainability can be achieved through innovative partnerships and a commitment to protecting our oceans.

Join Us in Making a Difference

You can help us continue this vital work. Support our efforts to remove more dangerous gear from the ocean and turn it into lifesaving tools. Get Involved to make a real impact and join our mission to protect marine life.