From the NW Straits June Newsletter
Jeff June, Natural Resources Consultants, is the derelict fishing gear removal field manager for the Northwest Straits Foundation. Jeff presented results from the recent study of Dungeness crab mortality from derelict pots supported by the Stillaguamish Tribe and Northwest Straits Foundation.
Jeff reported that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates that 12,193 crab pots are lost each year in Puget Sound. Each lost crab pot without escape cord kills approximately 30 crabs each year until deterioration. Jeff provided several ways to prevent crab pot loss:
· Don’t fish in marine transit zones
· Weight your pots so they don’t move in high currents
· Make sure line is long enough for the depth you are fishing
· Use multiple floats in high current areas
· Don’t set pots too close together
· Always use escape cord – 120 thread count is regulation but a better rule of thumb is to use 1/8 inch diameter cord.
A recent change in regulations allows enforcement agents to ticket crabbers for transporting illegal pots on marine waters, instead of only ticketing for actively fishing illegal pots. Jeff explained that there are some areas of concentrated accumulation of crab pots that will be targeted for this enforcement.
Click here for a pdf copy of the presentation.
Filed under: Jefferson County, Olympic Peninsula, Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Puget Sound, Salish Sea, Straits of Juan de Fuca | Tagged: Crab, Hood Canal, Olympic Peninsula, Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Puget Sound |
