A father and son duo, with help from kind strangers, recently freed a beach from a washed-up, massive fishing net that posed a big threat to the marine life there.
Western Cape, South Africa (17 March 2025) — Sometimes, exciting things wash up on the shore that make our beach walks all the more exciting—fascinating sea shells or a message in a bottle if we’re lucky. Other times, we’re met with far less than thrilling washaways. Many of us might shake our heads and look the other way when this happens. But some of the better ones among us will take the time to clean up and remove what shouldn’t be there in the first place. People like Michael de Nobrega, his son and kind strangers who recently saved a local beach from a massive fishing net hazard.
A passionate marine life photographer from Hartenbos, Michael knows that you can’t just appreciate the beauty of our oceanic wonders. You have to protect them, too.
As such, when he came across a massive fishing net near Bayview Beach along a night walk, he knew something needed to be done.
“It was far too big for me to remove on my own, and leaving it behind really weighed on me – these nets are absolute death traps for marine life,” Michael shared.
So, he and his son Miguel ventured back to the spot, ready to get the fishing net out of the ocean’s hair.
After a search, they spotted the hazard near the jetty at Baydunes.
This net would require some elbow grease to retire. But luckily for Michael and Miguel, they weren’t the only good-hearted folk on the beach.
“With the help of a kind lady fishing nearby and an elderly gentleman, we managed to pull the net out of the ocean,” said Michael.
Once removed, the next task was actually moving the heavy net. With a little creative thinking in tow, Michael and Miguel cut the net into manageable pieces before dragging it 300 metres and up 25 metres of steep stairs.
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“After nearly two hours of hard work, we finally got the job done,” Michael beamed.
“A huge thank you to those who helped us. But the most credit goes to my son Miguel, whose determination and understanding of marine conservation made this possible. Today, we were a great team, and even if it’s just a small effort, I truly believe we made a big difference.”
Michael, Miguel, and their friend’s efforts likely saved marine animals’ lives. And from their story, we take away the sentiment that not only can a disheartening sight (like the washed-up fishing net) become an opportunity to do something good, but it’s also an opportunity to see others join the call for a little kindness.
So, the next time you spot some trash, a stranded sea turtle or something else, don’t think of it as something depressing. Think of it as a chance to change a narrative and inspire a few people along the way.
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