These divers are trying to make a dent in Maine's 'ghost gear' problem, one abandoned trap at a time

Buzz Scott’s nonprofit, OceansWide, has been training scuba divers to recover derelict, or "ghost gear," from the seafloor. He estimates there are potentially more than 15 million abandoned lobster pots in Maine waters. OceansWide is part of the New England Regional Fishing Gear Response and Removal Team, a recently-formed coalition of organizations that are working to clean up marine debris from the Gulf of Maine and educate the public about the problem. So far, Oceanswide divers have recovered about 13,000 traps near Boothbay, Matinicus and Gouldsboro. A federal marine debris grant will allow them to eventually expand to Stonington, Jonesport, and Vinalhaven.