ARRI is dedicated to the study of abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) and its impacts on marine ecosystems. We use aerial surveying via drone, coupled with action by local recovery and recycling teams, marine conservation organisations and dive centres, to restore coastal marine environments.

The ARRI team are marine biologists and ecologists, with specialties in aerial surveying, ghost gear pollution, elasmobranch biology & spatial ecology.  We are extremely passionate about ocean conservation, cultivating relationships with local communities and researchers, and implementing long-lasting locally-managed solutions.

With the help of scientists, colleagues and members of the public, through the Ocean Solutions Fund via Experiment Foundation, we were able to raise funds for an initial survey of ALDFG in Koh Phangan, Surat Thani, Thailand.  We are incredibly grateful to all of the donors and to Experiment.

Our pilot project took place on Koh Phangan, in the Surat Thani region of Thailand, and was a success. We are currently writing up our field report and will be publishing this soon!

In May 2023, the ARRI team were selected as one of eight projects to receive the GGGI Small Grants Award, to continue and expand our research within the region. In August 2023, we headed back to Koh Tao for another round of aerial surveys for ALDFG, not only around Koh Phanga, but also Koh Tao. The ARRI team carried out surveys to identify and locate both ghost gear and marine megafauna, collaborating with local organisations to recover this gear, and have worked to implement a removal and recycling initiative within the region.

We have since completed our field season, and wow - what a year!

We’re currently finishing our data analysis, and are looking forward to publish our research, as well as planning our 2024 to build on our work in Thailand.

We are so grateful to Experiment Foundation, our donors, GGGI & The Ocean Conservancy for their support.

Please visit ARRI’s project page to learn more.