Image Gallery: November 2007
'Ghost-net' retrieved in Arafura Sea
08 November 2007
A ghost-net containing an estimated dozen fishing nets and weighing between 12-15 tonne has been successfully retrieved from the Arafura Sea near Maningrida in the Northern Territory through a joint operation involving Customs, the Djelk Sea Rangers and the Royal Australian Navy’s Balikpapan Class Heavy Landing Craft HMAS Tarakan.
A death trap to marine life caught in its tangled reach, and posing potential quarantine risks, the net’s presence in Australian waters was closely monitored by local sea rangers, but proved too large for them to haul it to shore for disposal without assistance.
Assigned the retrieval task by Border Protection Command, HMAS Tarakan sailed from Cairns to rendezvous with the sea rangers, ten nautical miles off the coast near Maningrida, for an escort to the net’s precise location.
| 20071030adf8243523_0120 HMAS Tarakan's Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander Chris Doolin discusses the location of a 'ghost-net' with the Djlek Sea Rangers Samuel Gulwa (left) and James Woods onboard HMAS Tarakan off the Northern Territory coast. (Date taken: 30 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071030adf8243523_0164 Djlek Sea Rangers Brenton Cooper (left) and James Woods from Maningrida talk with HMAS Tarakan while escorting it to the location of a 'ghost-net', 10 nautical miles off the Northern Territory coast. (Date taken: 30 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071030adf8243523_0426 The crew from HMAS Tarakan prepare to haul-in a 'ghost-net', while the Djelk Sea Rangers monitor progress, 10 nautical miles off the Northern Territory coast near Maningrida. (Date taken: 30 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071030adf8243523_0605 A 'ghost-net' is hauled towards the ramp of HMAS Tarakan, while the crew take a short break, 10 nautical miles off the Northern Territory coast near Maningrida. (Date taken: 30 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071030adf8243523_0709 The size of a 'ghost-net' and the marine life caught up in it is assessed by the crew of HMAS Tarakan before further retrieval is actioned, 10 nautical miles off the Northern Territory coast near Maningrida. (Date taken: 30 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071030adf8243523_0732 The size of a 'ghost-net' and the marine life caught up in it is assessed by the crew of HMAS Tarakan before further retrieval is actioned, 10 nautical miles off the Northern Territory coast near Maningrida. (Date taken: 30 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071030adf8243523_0769 The size of a 'ghost-net' and the marine life caught up in it is assessed by the crew of HMAS Tarakan before further retrieval is actioned, 10 nautical miles off the Northern Territory coast near Maningrida. (Date taken: 30 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071030adf8243523_0798 The size of a 'ghost-net' and the marine life caught up in it is assessed by the crew of HMAS Tarakan before further retrieval is actioned, 10 nautical miles off the Northern Territory coast near Maningrida. (Date taken: 30 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071030adf8243523_0855 Djlek Sea Ranger Dean Cooper investigates the debris and marine life caught up in a 'ghost-net' during retreival by HMAS Tarakan, 10 nautical miles off the Northern Territory coast near Maningrida. (Date taken: 30 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071030adf8243523_0910 The size of a 'ghost-net' and the marine life caught up in it is assessed by a crew member onboard HMAS Tarakan before further retrieval is actioned, 10 nautical miles off the Northern Territory coast near Maningrida. (Date taken: 30 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071030adf8243523_0927 The size of a 'ghost-net' and the marine life caught up in it is assessed by a crew member onboard HMAS Tarakan before further retrieval is actioned, 10 nautical miles off the Northern Territory coast near Maningrida. (Date taken: 30 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071030adf8243523_0931 Crew members onboard HMAS Tarakan begin cutting up peices of a 'ghost-net' during the retreival process, 10 nautical miles off the Northern Territory coast near Maningrida. (Date taken: 30 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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