Fathoms Free

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Fathoms Free

Registered Charity 1192613 The global marine debris problem is one the greatest threats our planet has ever encountered.

Fathoms Free protects marine wildlife and the environment for everyone's benefit by removing ALDFG (abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear) and other marine debris from the coastal waters of Cornwall and Devon. Fathoms Free is a registered Charity - number 1192613
We are a group of volunteer Conservationists who refuse to simply stand by and watch, whilst our seas turn into uninhabit

able dumping grounds. Research suggests that ALDFG (Abandoned, Lost or Discarded Fishing Gear) makes up a large portion of marine debris and poses a continuous threat to marine life. If the seas can no longer sustain life, neither can the planet. The problems posed by ALDFG are well documented. Divers are in a unique position to assist in tackling this threat. The group is made up of people from various backgrounds, agencies and organisations. If you would like to take a proactive step towards protecting our seas, please like and share our page, and help raise awareness of our work.

08/06/2026

To celebrate World Oceans Day this weekend, the team at Fathoms Free worked with BSAC - British Sub-Aqua Club divers to clean the beach in front of St. Michael's Mount from Long Rock to Marazion.

A group comprising members from a dozen BSAC clubs got together for the beach clean on Saturday afternoon, which was also supported with additional litter picking equipment loaned by the team behind the Golowan Festival.

The windswept crew cleared the beach of everything from the usual bottles, cans, and other land-based litter to ropes and bits of fishing industry waste. Often, the volunteers were seen running after cans and bottles they'd freed from the sand, only for the wind to take them back before they could put them in their bags!

A sizable piece of net and a pot had also been ejected from the ocean by Mother Nature and were removed from the marine environment by the volunteers. The lucky lobster and crabs that were trapped in the pot were returned to the sea to live another day.

Huge thanks to everyone who volunteers their time to make a difference to the marine environment. We can't all do everything, but we can all do something to make a difference, and we're stronger together. 💙🔱

08/05/2026

Happy 100th Birthday, Sir David Attenborough. You're a national treasure who has been an inspiration and positive influence to millions of people around the world for generations. 💙

📷 Credit Conor McDonnell, Silverback Films

17/03/2026

Back for 2026! 🌊

Fathoms Free is an award-winning, volunteer-led marine conservation charity removing ghost gear and other marine debris from the coastal waters of Cornwall and Devon. Since 2014, their experienced volunteer divers and skippers have been helping protect marine wildlife and fragile ecosystems from the dangers of abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear.

Their inspiring work has earned them the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest honour a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

Come and meet the Fathoms Free team in our Movements area all weekend.

🪢 Crafts with Ghost Gear – make a unique souvenir from recovered fishing gear while learning about the charity’s work and the incredible biodiversity around our shores.

🎤 Talk from Luke Bullus (Trustee and Diving Officer) – discover how volunteer groups like Fathoms Free are working together to protect Cornwall’s marine environment and reveal the fascinating wildlife hidden just beneath the surface.

www.tropicalpressure.co.uk

14/03/2026

All set for the Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network forum.

Really grateful to have been given the opportunity to have a little display about our work at this fantastic event.

We're looking forward to a day of talks and conversations with great people and organisations making a positive difference throughout Cornwall and beyond. 💙🔱

04/03/2026

As we were preparing for our annual pilgrimage to the Go Diving Show, volunteer Jed got in touch about this monster that had appeared on a relatively difficult-to-access beach in Whitsand Bay. Due to urgency and our boats being out of the water, the only option was for Jed to raise a small army to get it up the cliffs.

Whilst Luke was on the UK Stage preaching the importance of collaborations, Jed who also volunteers with Rame Peninsula Beach Care, was showing just what can be done when people work together.

The determined team of dedicated local volunteers descended on Polhawn Beach on Sunday to cut the net into manageable chunks. They then carried it up the steep cliff paths to Polhawn Cottages.

Last night, Luke headed over to meet Jed and collect the net and ropes ready for recycling. With the power of multiple ratchet straps, they managed to compress it enough to just about get it all into the back of the truck, with a small amount left that went behind the seats.

Absolutely fantastic community effort, and huge thanks to those who gave up their Sunday to make a difference to their local area. We can't all do everything, but we can all do something to make a difference.

💙🔱

27/02/2026

Come say hello to some of the Fathoms Free team who will be with our friends from Neptune's Army of Rubbish Cleaners on stand 72 next to the Go Diving Show Tech Stage all weekend.

David from NARC will be speaking on the UK stage Saturday morning at 10.45. Luke will be speaking on the UK stage Sunday afternoon at 13.45.

We look forward to seeing lots of you there!

21/02/2026

Fantastic time at the Ocean Advocate summit in Bristol today. A full day of inspirational talks with extended breaks in between for discussions and outreach with other ocean advocates from across the country.

Big thanks to the organisers for giving us a little display space to raise awareness of our work and provide a focal point for conversations. We had some great conversations with like-minded, passionate people. 💙🔱

13/02/2026

Today, before she went to work, one of Fathoms Free team members tackled a large tangled mess of ghost gear that had washed up on Hayle beach.

Yesterday afternoon, a dog walker spotted the tangled pile of ropes and pots, not far from the Cove Cafe, Hayle.

With her morning free before work, Elle headed down armed with her dive knife and a dumpy builder's one-tonne bag.

A few hours later, she returned home with her back seats down and a car rammed full of ghost gear separated out and ready for recycling.

Despite all the seats being down and every inch of the car loaded with gear, two broken pots had to stay behind in the car park for collection later this weekend.

Great work, Elle, for ensuring another tangled mess of ghost gear is removed from the marine environment! 💙🔱

01/02/2026

Today, the team tackled a large tangled mess of ghost gear that had washed up on Looe beach.

While we were at the Cornwall Wildlife Trust Your Shore Network conference yesterday, multiple reports from members of the public came in about the monstrous mess.

As we were in the complete opposite direction in St Ives, we dropped a message to Fathoms Free volunteer Tom, who runs Dive Looe, to see if he could check it out.

He popped straight down and reported back that some people had dragged it up the beach and secured it to the railings so that it wouldn't go anywhere. He also said his car boot definitely wasn't going to be big enough, and more hands were needed!

We popped across this afternoon, and it wasn't long before we realised our wheelbarrow is a bit flimsy relative to our enthusiasm, and one dumpy bag wasn't really enough!

After several wheelbarrows full and a large lump dragged up the slipway to the truck, the team soon had it cleared.

Great work Elle, Luke, Tom and Rhys! 💙🔱

31/01/2026

Today we attended another brilliant, inspirational Cornwall Wildlife Trust Your Shore Network conference. This year, the event was held at Tregenna Castle overlooking St Ives Bay.

The annual event is always a fantastic way to start the year, with a full day of listening to what others have been up to the year before and what they have planned for the year ahead.

Luke gave a short talk about what Fathoms Free has been up to since our last visit, and it was an excellent opportunity to connect with like-minded people who share our mission.

Address

Menheniot
Liskeard
PL143PJ

Website

http://fathomsfree.org/, https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/stingray-gearbox-appeal

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