The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism advises all fishermen to instil a more responsible attitude towards the use of fishing gears. This includes ensuring all nets and fishing gears are maintained well, and avoid deliberate dumping into national waters. The reminder was made following two separate reports related to the discovery of ghost nets by Oceanic Quest Sendirian Berhad at the Dolphin Wreck diving area.

The first discovery was reported last month by the diving company. Divers from the Department of Fisheries and Oceanic Quest successfully removed the ghost net that was estimated to weigh 14 kilogrammes. The second discovery was also reported on the same month at the same location. The ghost net weighing over 8 kilogrammes was removed immediately.

The collected nets were either disposed or recycled. Ghost nets affect corals, damage seabed habitats, and pose a risk for marine life aside from disrupting the balance of marine ecosystems.