On 24 April 2026, EurOcean took part in the 3rd Symposium on Ghost Nets, organised by Ocean Patrol Association and Redes Fantasma, with the support of the Oceano Azul Foundation. The event took place at the Auditório Mar da Palha in the Oceanário de Lisboa, bringing together an engaged community working to address ghost fishing gear and marine pollution.

Advancing solutions across the ghost net value chain

The symposium gathered experts, practitioners and organisations to explore the current state of ghost net technology, governance challenges, and practical solutions for prevention, recovery and responsible management. Throughout the day, discussions focused on strengthening collaboration and translating shared knowledge into concrete, actionable outcomes.

The programme opened with a session reviewing the state of the art of ghost net technology, highlighting what is already known, where current approaches fall short, and the major challenges that remain.

Two panel discussions then explored the issue from complementary perspectives. The first addressed governance and prevention, bringing together policy and field experience to identify where systems fail and what new pathways are emerging to tackle the problem at its source. The second panel focused on recovery, responsibility and smart disposal, examining what happens after a net is lost and the responsibilities that span the entire value chain.

From dialogue to action

A collaborative workshop on prevention and responsibility encouraged participants to identify system gaps and propose practical solutions. The session aimed to ensure the symposium would deliver not only dialogue, but also clear and actionable ideas to move forward.

The event also highlighted the role of awareness and creativity in ocean conservation, with participants invited to explore Untie the Ocean, an exhibition of artworks created from beach debris.

Strengthening partnerships for ocean action

EurOcean’s participation reflects its commitment to fostering cooperation, innovation and knowledge exchange to address marine pollution and protect ocean ecosystems. Events like this demonstrate the power of partnerships in tackling complex ocean challenges and advancing collective action.

EurOcean thanks Ocean Patrol, Redes Fantasma and the Oceano Azul Foundation for bringing together a diverse and committed community dedicated to driving real change for the ocean.