Along Namibia’s Skeleton Coast, artisanal fishermen have launched an informal rescue effort for seal pups trapped in discarded fishing nets.
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Videos shared on WhatsApp groups in Walvis Bay show men using knives and pliers to free pups tangled in plastic mesh.
At least 49 rescues were recorded by Tuesday.
Marine biologists say the ghost-net problem is worsening due to drifting commercial gear.
The fishermen, who receive no compensation, said they simply “couldn’t walk past suffering animals.” Conservationists are now pushing for community-based beach patrols modelled on the fishermen’s work.
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