The Federal Government has re-enlivened support for a conservation group which removes deadly abandoned fishing nets from Australian seas and waterways.

A group called GhostNets Australia has removed more than 12,000 fishing nets from waters across northern Australia, saving thousands of sea creatures.

GhostNets was forced to close earlier this year after its application for annual funding was rejected. Now the group has been offered and signed a two-year contract worth $600,000 from the Commonwealth Government's Working on Country program.

GhostNets Australia co-ordinator Riki Gunn says: “We've got some renewed funding to continue working with the rangers and keep the GhostNets network alive, it's a little bit less than what we're used to, but it's good news.”

The reduction in funds has meant two officers will work part-time instead of full-time, and the organisation will not be able to pay indigenous ranger groups to remove ghostnets. Organisers say the core work of the group will be able to continue.

“We'll still have extension officers working with these (indigenous) groups and helping the rangers in the field, collecting data and removing the nets; that part of the program will remain the same,” says Ms Gunn.