The Ballito Pro Festival has introduced an initiative called 'Stop the Strangle,' aimed at combating pollution from 'ghost gear' and engaging local residents in ocean conservation efforts.
Combating Abandoned Gear
Organizers of the renowned Ballito Pro surf festival have decided to improve the state of the ocean by addressing the issue of 'ghost gear,' which refers to discarded fishing equipment. The 'Stop the Strangle' campaign is part of this year's program, which began at Willard Beach last week and will conclude on Saturday.
The main objective of the campaign is to educate the public about the harm that abandoned fishing equipment causes to marine life. Local communities are urged to actively participate in removing hazardous waste from the South African coastline.
Threats to the Marine Ecosystem
Ghost fishing gear includes lost or abandoned nets, ropes, lines, and traps that harm marine creatures by entangling, injuring, and killing them. Collette Bandy, the festival organizer, emphasized the importance of this campaign.
She stated: 'As surfers, event organizers, and ocean lovers, we understand that protecting our coast is an integral part of our daily lives. This gives visitors another practical way to be part of the solution while learning about one of the greatest threats to marine life today.' Bandy added that they are proud of their collaboration with nature conservation partners to leverage the Ballito Pro platform to drive real environmental action.
Scale of Pollution Problem
According to the organizers, ghost fishing gear accounts for nearly 10% of all global marine pollution, entering the oceans annually in quantities estimated at 640,000 tons. This discarded equipment makes up 70% to 80% of the notorious Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The consequences of marine debris accumulation are severe: over 100,000 marine mammals die annually due to entanglement in ghost gear, as do more than a million seabirds, turtles, and sharks.
Visitor Involvement and Plans
Festival guests will be able to view exhibits of ghost gear collected from local shores. Visitors will be informed about collection points where ghost gear can be safely dropped off, and large items washed ashore should be reported to the relevant authorities. Organizers plan for the campaign to evolve into the largest community-based coastal preservation network in South Africa, supporting monitoring of marine protected areas, raising awareness about poaching, and responding to environmental incidents.
Partnerships and Additional Activities
In collaboration with partners such as Litter4Tokens, TrashTalk.io, and PETCO, the festival has already collected over 5.2 million kilograms of recyclable waste nationally and supported more than 2,500 registered waste collectors. This year, every participating surfer will receive a uniquely branded 'Mermaid Tear Catcher,' designed for further collection of plastic pellets during travels and participation in an international citizen science project. Visitors can take part in the 'Mermaid Tear Catcher Nurdle Education and Clean-up Competition' and win prizes such as eco-friendly surfboards made from recycled materials and luxury reserve tours. The festival also promises to feature a program of surf competitions, musical performances, BMX demonstrations, beach sports, skateboarding, family entertainment, and tourism events, making it a multifaceted celebration of sport and sustainable development.