Beach cleaner finds 'Baltic treasure' - a 500-gram amber piece

While cleaning a beach on the Hel Peninsula, Dariusz Brzeski stumbled upon a significant find: a 500-gram chunk of amber, often referred to as a "Baltic treasure." The valuable fossilized resin was discovered hidden within a "ghost net," a discarded fishing net that poses a severe threat to marine animals.

Brzeski, accompanied by his goose, duck, and dog, was collecting trash when he encountered the tangled net. He described the discovery on social media and to local media, noting that thousands of people had likely passed by the net without noticing the amber. He highlighted that the amber, which fits snugly on a hand and shows imprints of tree bark, is estimated to be worth at least several thousand euros.

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...while cleaning ghost nets from the beach on Cape Hel, in one of them, which thousands of people passed by, I discovered a 500-gram amber.

This remarkable find occurred during a beach cleanup, contrasting with typical amber hunting methods that often involve specialized equipment. Brzeski intends to use the amber and the ghost net in educational sessions. His goal is to draw public attention to the dangers facing the Baltic Sea, including the deadly ghost nets, while also showcasing the natural wonders that the sea can yield.

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Baltic treasure! We found a 500-gram amber and it was literally in the trash, in ghost nets, while cleaning this deadly threat to birds, fish, and mammals. Our reward is worth at least several thousand euros.