Participate in a Survey of Shrimp Fishers in Puget Sound
The Northwest Straits Foundation and Natural Resources Consultants have been conducting derelict fishing gear survey and removal projects removing lost nets and crab pots in Washington waters since 2002. Because most of our work to date has been with divers in relatively shallow water (less than 105 ft deep), our experience with deeper derelict fishing gear such as shrimp pots is limited. In order to gain a better understanding of this issue, we need to begin with an estimate of shrimp pot loss by shrimp fishers in the Puget Sound. If you are a recreational shrimp pot fisher, please click here to take this short survey. Your honest participation is greatly appreciated.
Media Covers Derelict Net Surveys
Divers from the Environmental Protection Agency recently completed some pre-removal derelict net verification near Possession Bar, prior to our removal work in Island County. News media from KING 5 TV ran a short news item on the work. Click here to view the story.
Crab Mortality Article Publication
Recently published in the North American Journal of Fisheries Management, "Dungeness Crab Mortality Due to Lost Traps and a Cost–Benefit Analysis of Trap Removal in Washington", prepared by Kyle Antonelis, Daniel Huppert, Don Velasquez and Jeffrey June. Click here to read the article.
Funding Awarded
Big thanks to the Salmon Recovery Funding Board for new funding for derelict net removal in San Juan and Island Counties. New grants totaling $310,000 will kick in in 2012. The plan is to remove all the known remaining shallow water derelict nets in those areas. And thank you also to the Lucky Seven Foundation for a $25,000 grant to support derelict net removal in 2012. We’ll be getting our boats out on the water soon, thanks to these generous funders.
Our Program
Gear Removal to Date
As of November 30, 2011, the Northwest Strait
s Initiative has removed 4,081 derelict fishing nets and 2,668 crab pots from Puget Sound, restoring 596 acres of critical marine habitat.
Over 241,700 animals, representing more than 240 species, were found entangled in this gear. Species found include porpoise, sea lions, scoters, grebes, cormorants, canary rockfish, Chinook salmon, and Dungeness crab. For a complete report of our progress to date, click here.
What’s Left
Nets: We estimate that fewer than 500 derelict fishing nets remain in shallow sub-tidal areas of Puget Sound, entangling and killing more than 250,000 animals each year. We are continuing removal operations as funding allows.
Deepwater nets: We also know there are untold numbers of nets in deeper water, possibly entangling endangered rockfish and other deepwater species and destroying habitat. We are currently seeking funding to conduct surveys of deepwater areas to determine how many nets remain in those areas.
Crab pots: More work is needed to prevent the loss of crab pots as well. Our research estimates that 12,000 pots are lost in Puget Sound every year. We support local efforts to conduct outreach to recreational crabbers on best practices in order to to reduce the number of lost pots and ensure pots are rigged with biodegradable escape cord.
ARRA Project Complete
In 2010, the Initiative completed an 18-month project with $4.6 million dollars of economic stimulus funding from NOAA. The project enabled us to ramp up our removal operations from one boat operating part time to four full-time removal vessels. For more information, click here.
Derelict Net at Alden Bank
The video below shows underwater footage of a derelict net on Alden Bank in Whatcom County. Check out our video gallery for additional underwater footage.
Our Goal
The Northwest Straits Initiative is committed to eliminating harm from derelict fishing gear in marine waters of Puget Sound.
(click image to enlarge)
What is derelict gear?
Derelict fishing gear includes fishing nets, lines, crab and shrimp traps or other equipment that is abandoned or lost in the marine environment. Such gear poses many problems to marine animals and people.
Read more about the impact derelict gear has in Puget Sound.
Media Coverage
The Olympian - April 17, 2012
Seattle Times - April 8, 2012
KPLU - June 9, 2011
Everett Herald - May 13, 2011
Vancouver Sun – March 18, 2011
KUOW – January 11, 2011
USA Today – May 18, 2010
NBC Nightly News – Sept. 29, 2009
New York Times – August 24, 2009
Click here to view a full list of articles.
Campaign for Matching Funds
The Foundation is seeking funds for derelict gear removal from individuals, businesses and foundations through 2012 in order to fulfill requirements of private matching funds for federal grants. Donations can be made online or through the mail. Read more...
Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative, authorized by Congress, is nationally recognized as an innovative approach to bring sound science and an ecosystem perspective together with citizen energy and entrepreneurship. The Northwest Straits Foundation is a non-profit organization established to support the scientific, restoration, and education projects and programs of the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative.