Harry Dennis, a marine biologist and Gavin Parker an environmental campaigner are living out the proverb ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’.
In 2018 they founded the brand Waterhaul with the mission to transform ocean waste into purposeful, high quality products.
The most common plastic found in our oceans isn’t the infamous straw but discarded fishing gear. Around the world, fishing communities often lack the means to responsibly dispose of worn-out nets. This leads to an accumulation of ‘ghost gear’ which is abandoned equipment that makes up an estimated 46% of the floating Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Made from incredibly durable plastics, these old nets can continue catching fish for centuries, posing a deadly threat to marine life.
Waterhaul’s founders saw an opportunity in this problem. These nets, though dangerous as waste, are incredibly tough, slightly flexible, and perfectly suited as a raw material for durable products. By turning a threat into a resource, they could incentivise the recovery of ghost gear from coastlines and harbours.
In Harry’s words, “If there were £20 notes floating around in the ocean, they’d get picked up pretty quickly.” And sunglasses offered the perfect vehicle for a fun, stylish product that could share a message of ocean protection.
(Above) One man's trash is another man's treasure
(Below) Waterhaul's Zennor wrap around frame, ideal for watersports
Harry and Gavin met whilst working at Surfers Against Sewage, one of the UK’s most respected environmental campaigning organisations. Harry co-ordinated beach cleans and helped to set up an inter-parliamentary group on plastic pollution. Whilst Gavin headed up the Plastic Free Communities project. Both learned invaluable lessons on the power of community driven change. And at the same time they kept seeing the same issue. Discarded fishing nets washing up around the coast of the UK. A potential resource going to waste.
Together, the pair and some others who got excited about the project began experimenting with making sunglasses from recycled fishing net plastics. The best fishing net hauls were often in some pretty hard to reach bays and their initial forays were called “missions” for good reason. But collecting the nets was just the start and it took countless prototypes and much trial and error in manufacturing before they were able to develop high performing eyewear frames made entirely from recycled nets.
The name Waterhaul, a fishing term for an empty net, is a playful name for a brand dedicated to rescuing empty nets. But the name also symbolises the team's commitment to turning environmental problems into positive solutions.
Launched at a time when public interest in plastic pollution was high, Waterhaul quickly began to build momentum. After starting by collecting discarded nets around Cornwall the team are now scaling efforts. New initiatives include a pilot scheme with harbours in Pembrokeshire to receive end-of-life nets directly from the fishing industry. These partnerships aim to offer fishing communities the disposal solutions they’ve long lacked.
(Above) Waterhaul founder Harry Dennnis with a haul of 'ghost nets'
(Below) The bestselling Fitzroy style comes in blue mirror or grey lenses
And the sunglasses? They’re as stand-out as the story behind them. Crafted by an Italian manufacturer who produces eyewear for premium brands, the frames feel substantial yet light enough to wear comfortably all day. The mineral glass Barberini lenses deliver a beautifully crisp view and are often found on frames costing two to three times the cost.
Like any eyewear, taking the time to select a shape that suits your face is a smart investment. And with their range of flattering styles, Waterhaul has us all covered. So keep the glare out of your eyes and 'ghost gear' out of the sea with Waterhaul, this summer and many more to come.
