Bill Gates-backed malaria nets helped fight disease, but are harming African waters

Millions of insecticide-treated mosquito nets distributed across Africa to prevent malaria are being repurposed as fishing gear, raising concerns about declining fish populations, damage to aquatic habitats and the unintended consequences of humanitarian aid. The issue, highlighted in reporting by the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) and National Geographic, illustrates how equipment designed to protect public health can create environmental challenges when used for purposes other than those intended.The Gates Foundation has supported malaria prevention efforts across the world. According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), three billion insecticide-treated nets have been shipped worldwide since 2004, most of them to countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The milestone was announced in November 2023.How mosquito nets became fishing equipmentInsecticide-treated nets are designed to be suspended over beds or sleeping areas, creating a barrier between people and mosquitoes that transmit malaria.