Two marine scientists, one shipwreck, and a mission to uncoBeyond Cleanups: A New Kind of Mission
In this episode of the Healthy Seas Podcast, we take you inside a groundbreaking project that combines our cleanup work with long-term scientific research. Together with our partner DWS, Healthy Seas is investigating how ghost nets affect biodiversity on shipwrecks—and what happens when they’re removed with the help of Ghost Diving volunteers.

Our guests are Isadora Abuter and Ramona Reichert, two Healthy Seas marine scientists who joined the expedition in Greece. With host Crystal DiMiceli, they share what it was like to dive on the wreck, how they collected data underwater, and why science and storytelling must go hand in hand to protect the ocean.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

Why the Ionian Sea shipwreck was chosen as the study site
First impressions of the wreck—and the surprising life found on the ghost nets themselves
How the team measured biodiversity and microplastic pollution underwater
The importance of illustration and communication in bringing science to life
What comes next in phase two of this long-term project

Why It Matters

For Healthy Seas, every cleanup is more than removing waste—it’s an opportunity to learn, restore, and inspire. This project shows how science strengthens conservation, and how partnerships like the one with DWS open new possibilities for impact.

As Isadora puts it: “Even the most important research has no impact if people cannot understand it. That’s why communication is key.”

Listen now at the links below.

Learn more about the "Wrecks of Life: Tracking Biodiversity After the Nets" and our mission with DWS: https://www.healthyseas.org/blog/unseen-damage-how-ghost-nets-disrupt-marine-life-coral-growth-and-ocean-health/

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Healthy Seas is a marine conservation organization whose mission is to tackle the ghost fishing phenomenon and turn this waste into an opportunity for a more circular economy. They do this through clean-ups, prevention, education, and working with partners who recycle and repurpose this material. The podcast is hosted by Crystal DiMiceli.