Ghost nets abandoned under the sea are threatening coastal fishing, with fishing towns like Ocaklar in Turkey losing their economic resources and turning into ghost towns.
In response, Turkey supermarket chain CarrefourSA has launched an impactful project “Ghost Town” in Ocaklar Town, located in Balıkesir Erdek. With the message “If fishing dies, Ocaklar dies!”, the “Ghost Town” project aims to protect coastal settlements that rely on small-scale coastal fishing for their livelihood and raise awareness about the sustainability of marine ecosystems.
Created by TBWA\Istanbul, the striking installation highlights how ghost nets–abandoned fishing nets that sink to the seabed–prevent fish from reproducing and can turn a once-thriving fishing town into a ghost town. Ocaklar Town was covered with ghost nets collected from the sea by CarrefourSA, visually transforming it into a ghost town overnight–serving as a stark warning about the potential future. The ghost town created with ghost nets symbolizes what we may face if no action is taken.
As part of the project, CarrefourSA is providing training sessions for small-scale coastal fishers in Ocaklar Town–aiming to make these digitally accessible nationwide. By collaborating with Turkey’s first integrated mussel facility in Ocaklar Town, the brand is also providing a livelihood for dozens of families by increasing women’s employment in the region. Currently, all employees at the mussel facility, including the facility manager, are women.
This hero film puts the campaign front and center, including the making of Ghost Town. The film was directed by Yiğit Karagöz via Organic Film. The “Ghost Town” project aims to protect coastal settlements that rely on small-scale coastal fishing for their livelihood and raise awareness about the sustainability of marine ecosystems.
