WILLEMSTAD - The Carmabi organization and the Coast Guard have removed a gillnet from the Marichi beach in downtown Punda. The Marine Parks department of Carmabi received a report that a net of about 15 meters had been stretched near the beach. A sea turtle was entangled in the fishing net.
The use of a gillnet is prohibited by law in Curaçao. Sea animals that end up in a net get caught in it with the gills and often do not survive this.
Upon encountering the illegal fishing net, the divers found a sea turtle that they were able to save. “In addition, the gillnet was wrapped around corals, causing damage to the reef ecosystem,” said Carmabi. With the help of the Coast Guard, Carmabi's Marine Park Rangers removed the net and handed it over for destruction.