An innovative initiative combining advanced drone technology with environmental conservation efforts is underway along the Northern Territory coastline of Australia. Charles Darwin University (CDU) is collaborating with the Anindilyakwa Land and Sea Rangers to address the significant threat posed by "ghost nets." These are lost, discarded, or abandoned fishing gears that present a grave danger to marine life, including endangered species such as turtles and dugongs. Ghost nets can drift vast distances across oceans, entangling and killing marine wildlife, and damaging habitats like coral reefs. The Northern Territory, particularly the Gulf of Carpentaria, is recognized as a global "hotspot" for marine debris accumulation due to prevailing currents and conditions.
To tackle this issue effectively, drones equipped with hyperspectral sensors have been deployed to map and identify ghost nets along remote coastlines. As of June 2025, drones have surveyed 83.74 kilometers of coastline within the Anindilyakwa Indigenous Protected Area, successfully identifying 72 ghost nets. The detected nets vary in size, from small fragments to those exceeding five meters in length, with some partially buried in sand and difficult to spot from land. This drone-based approach has proven more efficient and cost-effective than traditional helicopter surveys, which are often hampered by weather conditions and high costs. The drones' ability to provide precise data, including accurate GPS coordinates, enables the Rangers to plan targeted retrieval operations effectively. This is crucial as some buried nets are larger beneath the surface, requiring significant extraction efforts. The project also emphasizes local capacity building, with ten Anindilyakwa Rangers having obtained a Certificate III in Aviation (Remote Pilot), equipping them with the necessary skills to operate drones safely and legally. This training ensures that expertise and employment remain within the community, with drone batteries being replaceable in remote locations. The use of drone technology and artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly recognized as a vital tool in conservation efforts across Australia, with similar projects demonstrating their utility in detecting invasive species, monitoring vegetation health, and aiding land restoration.