ghost nets

When a fishing net starts life it is colourful, shiny, new and has a working life at sea catching fish.
When discarded, lost, abandoned or dumped at sea it becomes a ghost net and continues to 'fish', trapping marine and birdlife as it is carried by currents, waves and winds across oceans, often for years.

The north-west monsoonal winds carry nets from south-east Asia to the western Torres Straits and Gulf of Carpentaria. Eventually they end up on beaches and to date over 8000 have been collected and removed, some weighing in excess of 10 tonnes!
Until recently the nets have been burned or dumped in landfill, but now there is a new life for the lines and floats in a new object with its own story.
Here 'on island' the Anindilyakwa artists are taking the old nets and transforming them into baskets and dolls, weaving the strings as they would pandanis or the bark of the cocky apple.

Recycling at its very best!!