Sea of buoys

Mariculture off Chioggia, Italy.

There seems to be little information on the impacts of this kind of marine farming gear. These buoys are used for shellfish (mussel) farms situated offshore, e.g. see THIS LINK. Mussel farms are known to attract marine life, including marine organisms feeding on mussels or mussel fouling. A source of concern is represented by the discarded or lost nylon nets—called "reste"—used to contain and grow the mussels. Such ghost fishing gear represents a likely threat to marine life, besides adding to the overall plastic load of our seas.

(Photo by G. Bearzi, NW Adriatic Sea)