Ghost Nets and Marine Litter Removal Course
This course prepares you to plan and coordinate the removal of ghost nets and other marine litter safely and effectively. You will study the origins and impacts of marine litter, how to locate lost fishing gear with sonar and underwater vehicles, how to organize removal operations that minimize damage to the seabed, how to manage and recycle the waste recovered, and the prevention measures that can be applied in fisheries and on land.
Prior knowledge check
These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.
You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.
What is the Ghost Nets and Marine Litter Removal Course?
This course prepares you to plan and coordinate the removal of ghost nets and other marine litter safely and effectively. You will study where marine litter comes from and the harm it causes, from ghost fishing to microplastics; locate lost fishing gear using information from fishers, side-scan sonar and remotely operated vehicles; organize removal campaigns that protect the seabed and release trapped wildlife; and manage the recovered waste through sorting, recycling and port reception facilities, while designing prevention measures for fisheries, ports and the coast.
What sets this course apart: real operations, with the planning, safety and logistics of removal campaigns; technology, with sonar, underwater vehicles and litter mapping; a circular economy approach to recycling and recovering nets and plastics; prevention through gear marking, clean ports and cooperation with fishers; and a practical case in which you draw up a removal plan for a specific coastal area.
Program highlights
- Real operations: planning, safety and logistics of removal campaigns.
- Technology: side-scan sonar, underwater vehicles and litter mapping.
- Circular economy: recycling and recovery of nets and plastics.
- Prevention: gear marking, clean ports and cooperation with fishers.
- Sound judgment: assessing when removal does more harm than good.
- Practical case: a removal plan for a specific coastal area.
Syllabus of the Ghost Nets and Marine Litter Removal Course
5 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Marine litter: origins and impacts
- 1.1. Land-based and sea-based sources
- 1.2. Abandoned or lost fishing gear
- 1.3. Ghost fishing
- 1.4. Impacts on wildlife and habitats
- 1.5. Microplastics and degradation
Location and assessment
- 2.1. Information from the fishing sector
- 2.2. Side-scan sonar
- 2.3. Remotely operated vehicles
- 2.4. Mapping accumulation hotspots
- 2.5. Assessing the risks of removal
Removal operations
- 3.1. Campaign planning
- 3.2. Safety in underwater work
- 3.3. Low-impact removal techniques
- 3.4. Releasing trapped wildlife
- 3.5. Recording and documentation
Waste management and recovery
- 4.1. Sorting and cleaning
- 4.2. Recycling fishing nets
- 4.3. Recovering value from marine plastics
- 4.4. Port reception facilities
- 4.5. Extended producer responsibility
Prevention and practical case
- 5.1. Annex V of the MARPOL Convention
- 5.2. Marking of fishing gear
- 5.3. Fishing for litter programs
- 5.4. Awareness raising and citizen science
- 5.5. Practical case: a removal plan for a coastal area
Duration and format of the Ghost Nets and Marine Litter Removal Course
It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Ghost Nets and Marine Litter Removal Course
Career opportunities after the Ghost Nets and Marine Litter Removal Course
Questions about the Ghost Nets and Marine Litter Removal Course
A lost or abandoned piece of fishing gear that keeps catching animals at sea, uncontrolled.
No. The course does not replace a diving qualification or the training required for underwater work, which are issued by the competent bodies.
Not always. Sometimes removal causes more damage than leaving the net in place, for example when it has been colonized; the course teaches you how to assess this.
Yes. You study the options for recycling and recovering value from the materials retrieved.
You draw up a removal plan for a specific coastal area, covering location, operations, waste management and prevention.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The course comprises 300 hours of study across 5 modules of about 60 hours each and ends with an applied practical case. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.
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Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at graduates in environmental and marine sciences who wish to specialize in marine litter, port and fishers' association staff who manage fishing waste, environmental NGO officers who organize clean-up campaigns, divers and underwater workers who take part in removal operations, and public administration technicians who coordinate marine litter plans. A background in environmental or marine sciences, or experience in fisheries, ports, diving or environmental management, is recommended.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a camera for live sessions and project presentations.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrollmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enroll
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.