Fathoms Free

THE OBJECTS OF THE CIO ARE, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC, TO PRESERVE AND IMPROVE THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT AROUND THE COAST OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND TO CONSERVE, RELIEVE THE SUFFERING OF AND PROMOTE THE BIO-DIVERSITY OF MARINE WILDLIFE WITH THE USE OF VOLUNTEER DIVERS AND SURFACE SUPPORTERS BY, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:1. LOCATING, DOCUMENTING, RETRIEVING AND RESPONSIBLY DISPOSING OF ABANDONED, LOST AND DISCARDING FISHING GEAR (TO INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO NETS OF ALL TYPES, POTS, CREELS AND ANGLING GEAR) Û KNOWN AS GHOST FISHING GEAR, RELEASING AND WHERE POSSIBLE RETURNING ENTRAPPED MARINE WILDLIFE TO ITS NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.2. LOCATING, DOCUMENTING, RETRIEVING AND RESPONSIBLY DISPOSING OF UNDERWATER, FLOATING AND COASTAL MARINE LITTER, FOCUSING ON BUT NOT LIMITED TO MARINE PLASTICS3. SUPPORTING THE LOCAL RESIDENT POPULATION, THE SIGNIFICANT COASTAL TOURISM INDUSTRY AND THE RESIDENT FISHING COMMUNITIES BY MINIMISING THE LITTER AND GHOST GEAR HAZARDS TO MAKE THE BEACHES AND COSTAL SEAS A SAFER PLACE TO ENJOY AND MINIMISING UNNECESSARY DAMAGE TO LOCAL FISH STOCKS KILLED BY GHOST GEAR4. COLLECTING AND DISTRIBUTING DATA ON THE DISTRIBUTION, NATURE AND QUANTITY OF MARINE LITTER AND GHOST FISHING GEAR AND ITS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS5. SPREADING AWARENESS OF THE PRESENCE OF UNDERWATER MARINE LITTER AND GHOST FISHING GEAR, ALONG WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS IT CAUSES6. EDUCATING WATER USERS AND THE PUBLIC SO AS TO REDUCE THE INPUT OF DEBRIS TO THE SEA