Diver discovers deadly fishing net trapping and killing marine life in the Caribbean

A deadly fishing net is floating through the ocean ensnaring and killing a host of marine life.

Hundreds of fish and sharks have become trapped by the floating mass, which was spotted by divers in the Caribbean Sea.

Dominick Martin-Mayes, 27-year-old came across the “ghost net” earlier this week six kilometres north of Grand Cayman island, which is nearest to Jamaica.

He thought at first it was a log, but soon realised it was a net with floats about 15 metres wide and 15 metres deep.

“I jumped in the water and was shocked at what I saw,” he told The Independent.

“It took my breath away.”

He and his friends managed to cut a few creatures free before strong currents forced them to take evasive action.

Many of the fish were dead and a lot were decomposed beyond recognition, causing concern that the net has been killing its way around the Caribbean for months.

The net is so heavy, Mr Martin-Mayes was unable to tow it to lane, and there are fears it will be not found or end up on a reef.

The authorities have been alerted and are understood to be searching for the deadly mass.

But Mr Martin-Mayes was not optimistic.

“Never give up hope, but it’s a very small object in a very, very large ocean,” he said.