LocationsBy Aathira Vasudevan / UNDP India
Protecting Marine Life: How Tamil Nadu’s Coastal Communities Are Clearing Abandoned Fishing Nets
November 21, 2025
Community-led beach cleanup drive in Ramanathapuram
Along the shores of Tamil Nadu, discarded fishing nets are trapping marine animals and damaging fragile ecosystems. As the world marks World Fisheries Day, communities in Ramanathapuram, with support from the UNDP–Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme, are showing what local action can achieve. They are removing ghost nets from the sea, rescuing marine life, and turning the recovered waste into new sources of income.
A Coastal Region Rich in Heritage and Biodiversity
Ramanathapuram, a coastal district in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is known for its rich coastal heritage, from the Ram Setu bridge and the Rameswaram temple to the sunrise at Dhanushkodi. Life here is closely tied to the ocean. Most families depend on fishing, seaweed collection, dry-fish processing, or net mending. Frequent cyclones, rising sea levels, and declining fish catch have made livelihoods more unpredictable in recent years.
The district borders the Gulf of Mannar, one of the world’s richest marine biodiversity hotspots and a UNESCO-recognised region. Dugongs, sea turtles, sea cucumbers, dolphins, and a wide range of fish species thrive here. But this diverse ecosystem is under pressure from a growing threat: abandoned fishing gear.
Changing fishing practices, Rising debris
Over the last few decades, fishing practices have shifted from natural fibre nets made of coir or cotton to plastic-based gear. These nets are cheaper, last longer, and have smaller mesh sizes that increase catch efficiency. But the same durability makes them far more harmful when they are lost or discarded at sea. Ghost gear, which includes abandoned nets, lines, and traps, continues drifting underwater for years, trapping marine animals and damaging habitats like coral reefs.
Globally, over 557 marine species are affected by ghost gear. This includes two thirds of marine mammals, half of all seabird species, and every known species of sea turtle. In the Gulf of Mannar, the problem has intensified as more plastic nets enter the water, contributing to overfishing, juvenile fish loss, and reduced incomes for traditional fishers.
Under-water drive for ghost-net removal
Under-water drive for ghost-net removal
Small Grants, Big Impact
To address this challenge, UNDP is supporting the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation through the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Programme. These grants, up to USD 50,000 each, help community-based organisations design local solutions that protect ecosystems while supporting people’s livelihoods. In Ramanathapuram, the grant set off a community-driven effort to clear abandoned nets, raise awareness, and create new sources of income through upcycling.
The project began in June 2023 with a focus on understanding the impact of ghost nets and spreading awareness among fishers. It later expanded to training communities on safer disposal, retrieving abandoned nets, and turning the collected waste into usable products. Women and youth were placed at the centre of this effort.
Volunteers led regular clean-up drives along the coastline, and underwater retrieval teams were trained to remove nets trapped on the seabed. Campaigns helped fishers understand the long-term damage caused by ghost gear, including the loss of fish stock and harm to sensitive species.
Women leading the fight against marine pollution through ghost net recovery and beach cleanup
Impact on the Ground:
- 16.2 metric tons of marine debris removed
- 12.9 metric tons of that was abandoned fishing nets
- 559 volunteers participated
- 28 fishermen associations and 100 boat owner groups enagaged
- 10 sea turtles and 1 dolphin rescued by the Kalanjiyam Volunteer Group
"Earlier, we didn't even know that the fishing nets left in the sea were harming marine life and even damaging our own fishing tools. After attending the training through this MSSRF, I understood how dangerous ghost gear is. Now, we are not only removing them from the sea but also turning them into useful products. I feel proud to protect the ocean that gives us life”, says M. Sahayajayarani, a fisherwoman from Rameswaram.
Women Driving the Change
A major achievement of the initiative has been its strong focus on women’s leadership. Through training sessions, 123 fisherwomen learned how to turn recovered ghost nets into durable products like bags, mats, baskets, and coasters. What once posed a deadly threat to marine life is now becoming a source of income.
Capacity development workshops to turn marine debris into sustainable income-generating products
Capacity development workshops to turn marine debris into sustainable income-generating products
Many women now earn between INR 2,000 and 5,000 per month from these products. With stronger market linkages, that income could reach INR 10,000 per month. Their products are showcased at local events, conferences, and environmental exhibitions, and are now available on the Fisherwomen Connect mobile app. MSSRF has also begun using these products as gifts and mementos during events to support wider recognition.
“I never imagined that old nets could become something valuable. Through the training, I learned to make bags and mats. Today I earn my own income and support my family. This project changed how we see waste. It gave us a new skill and a new confidence”, says L. Christynal, a fisherwoman from Thangachimadam.
Shaping a Larger Movement
The project’s impact is now visible beyond the beaches. Communities are developing leadership groups, documenting voluntary guidelines for responsible fishing practices, and engaging with tourists, pilgrims, and local authorities on reducing marine pollution. The district administration and State Fisheries Department are exploring ways to replicate this model in other coastal districts.
There is also early discussion on forming Self Help Groups to improve access to credit and scale up upcycling activities. Local fishers, who once saw ghost nets as an unavoidable part of fishing, are now taking ownership of the solution and encouraging fellow fishers to adopt safer disposal methods.
As Dr. S. Velvizhi, MSSRF’s Area Director, puts it, “This is not just a project, it is an environmental movement. The impact goes beyond the project itself as the fishing communities have now taken ownership of the cause. They have also developed voluntary guidelines targeting all stakeholders like pilgrims, tourists, fishers, and even government authorities on how to collectively take action to end marine pollution.”
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‘Minimizing the Impact of Ghost Gears to Conserve the Biodiversity of Gulf of Mannar through Community-Centric Collective Approach’ is a project under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Program, implemented by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation and supported by UNDP and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
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