I attended the NW Straits quarterly meeting in Port Townsend on Friday, and was able to stay to hear the presentation by Jeff June, who has led the research project on crab mortality rates because of lost crab pots, both commercial pots and sport pots. Jeff’s project, which is now headed to a peer review magazine process, shows that as many as 375,000 crabs might be being killed in Puget Sound and the Straits by lost crab pots. These pots, of which most of us who have crabbed have lost at one time or another, can continue to kill crabs and other sea life for up to and over 320 days! The findings were far worse than anyone imagined.
What’s to be done about this? The expected outcome of this study are:
- Greater education of the public about proper use of crab pots.
- Perhaps changes to the laws about crab pot use.
- A likelyhood that crab pot makers can change the way the pots are made to breakdown under water faster.
- A possible option to retrofit existing crab pots (would require manufacturers to come up with a retrofit kit).
If you use a crab pot, be sure to use proper rot cord, make sure the depth and currents won’t carry away your pot, and don’t put your pots in the middle of a heavily traversed boating lane. These seem to be some of the most common reasons for derelict gear.
You can read the education web site for proper use of escape cord (cotton instead of nylon) at: http://www.escapecord.org/
Additionally, Jeff reported on the drift net project, removing underwater nets that have been lost and continue to kill wildlife. His teams have worked 68 days so far, and removed 92 nets. They hope to work 768 days total, and aim to remove between 2500 and 3000 known nets. Surveying underwater with side scan sonar and reports from fishermen have been responsible for mapping the locations of these nets. One that was found was 1800′ long and stretched 100′ deep! Most nets are only a couple hundred feet in length.
Thanks to Jeff June and his staff for the great work! To read more about Derelict Gear, see this web site: http://www.derelictgear.org/
Since 2002, the Northwest Straits Initiative has removed more than 1,900 derelict crab pots, weighing over 48,000 pounds, and saving thousands of crabs from incidental death each year.
The Northwest Straits Initiative is a citizen-driven, Congressionally-authorized program to restore and protect the valuable marine resources and habitats in northern Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Marine Resources Committees in seven counties set local priorities, investigate conditions, sponsor restoration and outreach projects, and recommend science-based marine policy to their respective local governments.
Filed under: Projects, Puget Sound, Straits of Juan de Fuca | Tagged: Puget Sound |
