In the vast, secluded stretches of the Gulf of Carpentaria, a quiet revolution in ocean conservation is taking flight. What once required helicopters and high budgets is now being handled by nimble drones equipped with artificial intelligence, revealing an alarming concentration of ghost nets—discarded fishing gear entangling wildlife and degrading marine ecosystems.

From Helicopters to AI-Powered Patrols

Covering over 52 miles of coastline within the Anindilyakwa Indigenous Protected Area, researchers from Charles Darwin University’s North Australia Centre for Autonomous Systems (NACAS) have used drones to identify 72 ghost nets ranging in size from under two feet to over sixteen feet long. Each net poses a hazard to the delicate marine environments nearby, home to dugong nurseries and nesting flatback turtles.

What used to take expensive helicopter flyovers can now be done with six-rotor unmanned aerial vehicles that fit in the back of a pickup. The shift dramatically reduces costs, expands coverage, and allows flights even during brief weather windows when aircraft would be grounded. The ability to respond quickly means stranded nets can be removed in days rather than weeks, preventing further damage to reefs and wildlife.

Why Ghost Nets Are a Global Concern?

Each year, an estimated 640,000 tons of fishing gear are abandoned in the world’s oceans. Known as ghost nets, these deadly leftovers trap marine life, tear apart coral reefs, and degrade into microplastics that climb the food chain. According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, they account for nearly half of all large plastic debris at sea.

In the biodiverse habitats of the Gulf mangroves, seagrass beds, and sandstone ledges—these nets are particularly destructive. A single abandoned trawl net can reverse years of conservation work in a matter of weeks.

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Local Knowledge Meets High-Tech Tools

With support from the Anindilyakwa Land Council, ten Indigenous rangers have received their Certificate III in Aviation (Remote Pilot), a nationally recognized credential that complies with Civil Aviation Safety Authority guidelines. By combining drone expertise with deep knowledge of the land and sea, these rangers are transforming coastal surveillance.

Ranger Louise Mountford shared her journey from hesitation to certification: “I wasn’t very comfortable doing it at first, but I had the right people around me to overcome that and I’m very grateful.”

Their on-the-ground presence means drone batteries are recharged next to mangroves, not at distant city airports. This keeps operations efficient and jobs within the community.

AI That Sees Beneath the Sand

The drones capture high-resolution images, which are analyzed using AI trained to detect the spectral signatures of green or orange fishing line against natural terrain. Some nets are barely visible only a small knot peeks above the surface, hiding yards of mesh below. For these, rangers carry shovels and battery-powered winches to haul out the buried debris.

Benjamin McArdle, Aquatic Biosecurity Officer, said, “The combination of accurate GPS and AI image analysis has greatly improved how we plan and execute net retrieval trips.”

30 Tons Removed But More to Come

Already, the initiative has removed more than 30 tons of nets, floats, and ropes from remote beaches. These efforts are restoring turtle nesting sites and improving overall habitat health. Another drone campaign is scheduled to begin shortly, timed with the southeast trade winds that push debris from international fisheries onto Australia’s northern shores.

The program, supported by the Federal Ghost Net Innovative Solutions fund, is also looking at sustainable financing through carbon credit partnerships that recognize the value of protecting coastal ecosystems.

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A Scalable Model for the World

As plastic production is expected to triple by 2060, the Groote Archipelago initiative offers a scalable blueprint for other nations grappling with marine debris. Lightweight drones paired with solar-powered charging kits can reach beaches where satellites fail due to cloud cover. Global fisheries are also beginning to adopt gear-tracking technologies, but without local enforcement and fast response, regulations risk being toothless.

This fusion of artificial intelligence, Indigenous leadership, and grassroots innovation is proving that even in the most remote regions, the fight against ocean plastic can be swift, smart, and community-driven.

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