GhostNetZero.AI – How AI is Saving Marine Life

Every year, nearly two percent of all fishing gear—covering around 80,000 square kilometers of the world’s oceans—is lost. These so-called ghost nets become deadly traps for more than 340 marine species. Since 2015, WWF has been locating and retrieving ghost nets in the Baltic Sea, and in 2018 it began using side-scan sonar to detect lost fishing gear.

Sonar allows detailed mapping of the seafloor from a ship. Its high resolution can reveal even thin fishing lines, transforming what was once a frustratingly difficult search. Since adopting sonar in 2018, WWF has recovered and removed 33 tons of ghost nets.

Artificial intelligence offers a powerful new tool. Vast amounts of sonar data are collected worldwide—not only by WWF, but also through surveys for maritime safety or offshore wind projects. Could AI automatically process these enormous datasets to pinpoint likely ghost-net hotspots? 
The answer is yes. That realization led to the creation of GhostNetZero.AI, publicly accessible since February 2025.

GhostNetZero.AI is a global online platform where individuals and organizations can upload their seafloor sonar data. Using advanced AI, the system analyzes the hydrographic data and flags potential ghost nets with 94 percent accuracy.

Specialists then review the flagged sites. Confirmed locations are uploaded to the GhostNetZero app, where divers can inspect them before recovery operations begin.

Confirmed ghost net locations don't go straight to recovery. First they need to be verifyed, and that is where the GhostNetZero app comes in. The free citizen-science app turns recreational divers into active participants in the cleanup effort. Through the app, divers can view the suspected sites, document conditions on the seafloor, and verify whether a flagged object is really a ghost net. On the other hand, divers who find ghost nets during one of their dives, can upload ghost net locations in the GhostNetZero App as well and help building a reliable database.

The more precisely a net's position and condition are known beforehand, the safer, faster, and more cost-effective the final recovery becomes. By involving divers in the preparation, GhostNetZero combines cutting-edge AI with hands-on local knowledge, while raising public awareness for an invisible threat beneath the surface.

The app is available for free on the App Store and Google Play.