Fishing net zero! Pet brand Tangle unites with charity to remove ghost nets from the ocean

Sustainable dog products brand Tangle has declared war on ghost nets in UK waters. 

The company has teamed up with Ghost Fishing UK, a charity dedicated to removing ghost nets from the ocean. 

Ghost nets are lost, discarded, or abandoned fishing nets that entangle and kill marine life. In some places ghost nets account for more than half of the plastic in the ocean, killing millions of fish and other marine life year by year. 

The scuba effort, credit: Tangle/Ghost Fishing UK

Tangle, founded by Xavier Warburton and Sam Cartwright, got involved in the ghost net removal and prevention effort in 2022 and are currently working with fishers at various ports to prevent any more ghost nets entering our water. The company itself is built around the idea of preventing ghost fishing, using repurposed end of life fishing nets to create sustainable, premium, long lasting dog products for ecologically conscious dog-owners. 

Xavier said: “When Sam and I met and started talking about creating a business together, our whole motivation was to stop ghost fishing nets entering the ocean and to make a new reusable product by recycling the nets. It’s hard for governments to pin down exactly who’s to blame here, which is why we feel it’s even more important to increase the awareness of this problem to encourage large fishing companies to act responsibly and try their best to protect the natural environment.”

One of Tangle’s happy customers, credit: Tangle

Ghost Fishing UK started in 2015 by training voluntary scuba divers to survey and recover lost fishing gear, with the aim to either return it to the fishing industry or recycle it. As well as donating to Ghost Fishing UK through product sales, Xavier and Sam also volunteer for the charity and join the scuba divers as they recover lost fishing gear.

Trustee and operations officer at Ghost Fishing UK Fred Nunn said: “The support of businesses like Tangle is absolutely essential for charities and volunteer groups like ours to be able to act and recover these nets when no one else can or will.

“What we especially loved about Tangle, was how Xavier and Sam had built their business around removing ghost nets from the ocean. Imagine if there were more businesses out there that put the environment front and centre. We’re thrilled to be working with such a progressive and environmentally focused brand, their support will save thousands of marine animals.”