The actor posts infographic documenting how gillnets affect marine wildlife

Mar 20, 2014 20:26 GMT  ·  By

Leonardo DiCaprio is a big fan of wildlife, especially marine creatures. Hence the fact that, towards the end of last month, his Foundation offered $3 million (€2.18 million) to green group Oceana.

As reported at that time, the organization, whose working agenda boils down to protecting the world's seas and oceans, promised that said sum of money would serve to promote sustainable and eco-friendly fishing practices.

After coughing out $3 million and donating it to a cause having to do with environmental protection, some might say that they have done more than enough and that a break from being eco-friendly is in order.

Luckily for creatures swimming around in our seas and oceans, Leonardo DiCaprio is not one of these people, media reports say.

On the contrary, shortly after his Foundation announced its partnership with Oceana, the actor turned to Facebook to explain why it is that efforts must be made to promote sustainable fishing practices on a global scale.

According to Ecorazzi, the actor saw fit to pick on gillnets, i.e. flat fishnets suspended vertically in the water to entangle fish by their gills.

Looking to raise awareness of how dangerous for marine creatures such fishnets are, Leonardo DiCaprio has even posted an infographic, available at the end of this article, which documents their impact on aquatic wildlife.

The graph details that, more often than not, gillnets used by fishermen are about the length of four Empire State Buildings, and as wide as an Olympic swimming pool.

More precisely, they measure 1 mile by 100 – 150 feet (1.6 kilometers by 30.5 – 45.7 meters).

Data obtained by conservationists back in 2010 say that, for each five swordfish that are caught in these nets, a marine mammal also becomes entangled in them and eventually dies.

“Mile-long gillnets used in California waters to catch swordfish needlessly kill hundreds of marine animals like dolphins and whales,” Leonardi DiCaprio wrote in the message accompanying this infographic.

It is estimated that, each year, about 100 marine mammals are killed by gillnets set in place off the coast of the state of California alone. Apart from whales and the like, sea turtles are also threatened by these fishnets.

Together with Oceana, Leonardo DiCaprio hopes that, given the right incentives and policies, fishermen will soon be convinced to green up their working agenda.

“Protecting our planet’s oceans and the marine species that call it home is one of the most pressing sustainability crises facing humanity today and a moral imperative that we must acknowledge,” the actor said in a recent statement.

Infographic documents how gillnets affect marine wildlife
Infographic documents how gillnets affect marine wildlife

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Leonardo DiCaprio wants better protection for marine wildlife
Infographic documents how gillnets affect marine wildlife
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