Waterhaul gives new life to ghost gear recovered in whale rescue

Waterhaul has partnered with the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA) on a limited-edition collection of sunglasses, created from discarded fishing gear (ghost gear) recovered from the rescue of an entangled humpback whale.

The collection forms part of Waterhaul’s Rescue to Recycle campaign, turning ghost gear into sunglasses, and calling for organisations and consumers to take an active role in protecting the ocean from marine plastic pollution.

The ghost gear used in the limited-edition collection was originally found tangled around a humpback whale in South Africa in September 2023.

Raggy Charters

WCA partner, Raggy Charters, sighted the humpback whale in Algoa Bay with two large orange buoys, a small yellow buoy, and a large amount of 20mm nylon cable wrapped around the base of the caudal fin (tail).

“If left in place, this gear would have slowed the whale’s movements, preventing them from feeding properly, and ultimately led to a slow, painful death,” Waterhaul shared.

Raggy Charters was able to guide the National Sea Rescue Institute for a successful rescue. The whale has since been sighted swimming freely.

Waterhaul shared: “Not only are these sunglasses sustainable, but they also connect the wearer directly to a powerful story of rescue and renewal.”

A percentage of every sale from the collection will be donated to support the work of the WCA and its local partners.

Gavin Parker, biologist and chief operating officer at Waterhaul, commented: “We’re thrilled to collaborate with the World Cetacean Alliance on this innovative project. This campaign not only highlights the dangers of ghost gear but also showcases the incredible things we can achieve by working together.”

“Each pair of sunglasses represents a piece of our mission to protect our oceans and give waste material a new life,” he said.

The new collection will be on sale from 21 September, exactly one year after the rescue.

Sophie Lewis, CEO of the World Cetacean Alliance, said: “Entanglement is one of the biggest threats facing whales today, but we can make a difference by working together to ensure the ocean becomes a cleaner, safer place for them.”

“By partnering with Waterhaul, we can turn this dangerous waste into donations that support community conservation globally,” Lewis said.

A limited-edition t-shirt and eyewear strap have also been revealed as part of Waterhaul’s Rescue to Recycle campaign.