Scylla net removal nears completion

Work to remove a 100-metre long fishing net snagged on the Scylla reef is nearing an end.

A team led by Rich Stevenson of Diving and Marine Solutions and Aquanauts of Plymouth has been tasked with the arduous job of cutting it away, and bagging it.

an arduous job of cutting

The ‘ghost’ net was discovered draped over the ship’s hull several months ago. It was either deliberately discarded over the side or lost at sea.

Obviously a net is a severe entanglement hazard to divers, not least because of this one’s position slap bang in the middle of a busy dive site.

Sadly many fish and sea birds have fallen foul of the net already.

The fishing net’s removal is being overseen by The National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, which is responsible for management of the Scylla site.

The NMA says it is hopeful the ship will be ‘net-free’ by the end of next week.

Formerly HMS Scylla a Leander class frigate, Scylla became the UK’s first artificial reef for divers when she was scuttled back in 2004.