The Quest

The first thing I noticed were the nets. As WHOI's Falcon ROV flew across the seafloor towards a bright sonar target, a tangled mass of fishing net appeared in our camera's view. 

A fishing net on the stern of Quest

"Oh, it's a net!" came the exclamation from the back of the room. We saw the nets before we even saw the wreck. They were everywhere - on the sediment, draped over the hull, coiled on the deck. Our target shipwreck, Quest, was absolutely covered in fishing nets. 

My mind flashed back to 2020. That year, I was the chief scientist for a team working in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. We extensively documented the passenger steamship Portland, which had three entangled fishing nets. In fact, my team's research showed that two new nets had impacted the wreck between 2009 and 2019. I remember the surprise of finding those nets. I remember the concern my team felt for the ROV and the careful planning we undertook to prevent entanglement. I remember reshaping our research questions after discovering the extent of the net entanglements. All of that came flooding back as I peered through the ROV's camera at Quest. 

I sat quietly in my seat behind the ROV pilots while they navigated around Quest. Behind and beside me, other members of the science party expressed their shock and horror. This team is passionate about shipwrecks, and they are particularly passionate about Quest. To discover that it was impacted by fishing gear was an emotional experience for many. 

And yet, I was not surprised. Since encountering those nets in Stellwagen 6 years ago, I have led a team to address the challenge of marine debris head-on. I have co-authored an analysis on the management challenges in shipwreck-laden fishing areas. I have interviewed fishermen to learn about the issue from their perspectives. I have even gone to sea on fishing boats myself. 

Every shipwreck is unique, but some patterns are universal. Shipwrecks that rest in fishing areas will become entangled with debris - that's just a fact. 

The good news is that my colleague, archaeologist Calvin Mires, is writing up our team's final report for the marine debris project while I am away on Atlantis. By engaging the fishing community, we have developed key solutions to prevent further entanglements. That report will be available and circulated to stakeholders soon. With sustained investment, we can reduce fishing gear losses and better preserve shipwrecks together.