The Net(work) Party: Untangling the Ocean
Chimichanga is more than just mouth-watering meals; it's a place where food, fun, and a love for the ocean come together. Join us as we dive into a tale of our passionate patrons who share their affection for Chimichanga and the sea.
Our Passionate Patrons
The journey began when our regular customer, Gopaal G Jeyaram and his fellow diver friends received a plea for assistance from their local friends at their favourite diving site, Batu Niti, Bali. Batu Niti's pristine waters were marred by giant ghost nets, posing a significant threat to their marine life.
The Impact of Ghost Nets
Ghost nets are fishing nets that have been abandoned, lost, or discarded at sea. These nets can be several kilometres long, weighing up to several tonnes. The most common type, a gillnet or driftnet, can ensnare marine life in its deadly embrace.
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Ghost nets move with the currents and tides, traveling incredibly long distances. They are responsible for trapping and killing a staggering number of marine animals, including sharks, rays, bony fish, sea turtles, dolphins, whales, crustaceans, and sea birds.
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And ghost nets harm coral reefs too—breaking the delicate corals, leaving them vulnerable to diseases, and obstructing the reefs from receiving the vital sunlight they require.
Ghost Nets & Plastic Pollution
By mass, fishing gear such as ghost nets makes up approximately half of the plastic debris found in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) -which is one of a number of stretches of ocean littered with plastic trash.
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The GPGP encompasses an estimated surface area of 1.6 million square kilometers, equivalent to twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France.
What makes ghost nets particularly troubling is their composition, primarily consisting of robust synthetic plastics that can persist for up to 600 years without breaking down. Over this extended timeframe, they disintegrate into progressively smaller fragments, ultimately transforming into microplastics that infiltrate the marine ecosystem.
Retrieving the Nets and the Challenges
In many parts of the world, efforts are being made to collect ghost nets and other plastic garbage from the sea. In the case of Batu Niti, ghost nets were discovered at a depth of 60 meters.
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Diving at such depths is considered highly risky and can only be undertaken by trained professionals equipped with technical equipment. In response to this critical situation, a community of dedicated dive instructors has come together to work towards the retrieval of 140 kilograms of ghost nets, an amount equivalent to the size of a football field.
The Call for Help
We are reaching out to you to seek your support. We are organizing a fundraising event to back the outstanding crew members as they courageously tackle this formidable task of net retrieval.
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As we strive to preserve the beauty of our oceans and combat the grave issue of ghost nets, we invite you to join us at The Net(work) Party - Untangling the Ocean.
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This event promises an evening filled with enjoyment, purpose, where every contribution counts. Be a part of the change, and let's come together to party for the future of our oceans. Every dollar from ticket sales will go directly towards supporting the mission to remove these ghost nets from Batu Niti's waters.
Date and Time: November 26th, 3 pm to 7 pm
Venue: Chimi’s Marina Bay located at 1 Marina Boulevard #01-01, Singapore 018989
Ticket Price: Tickets are priced at just $85 each
What to Expect: Guests will enjoy a fantastic afternoon with free-flowing wine, beer, spirits, and delectable finger food, all included in the ticket price.