APEC MARINE DEBRIS SEMINAR SUCCESSFUL GEAR RECOVERY SUCCESSFUL GEAR RECOVERY SUCCESSFUL GEAR RECOVERY Lessons from Puget Sound Lessons from Puget Sound Lessons from Puget Sound Jeff June, Project Manager Jeff June, Project Manager Jeff June, Project Manager Joe Schmitt & Gary Wood JD Joe Schmitt & Gary Wood JD Joe Schmitt & Gary Wood JD Northwest Straits Commission Northwest Straits Commission Northwest Straits Commission Washington State, U.S. Washington State, U.S. Washington State, U.S.
The Northwest Straits The Northwest Straits Derelict Fishing Gear Derelict Fishing Gear Recovery Project Recovery Project January, 2004 Report to APEC
The Puget Sound Derelict Fishing Gear Removal Project ⃡⃡ 1. 2001 NW Straits 1. 2001 NW Straits Commission awarded Commission awarded project grant project grant 2. Fourteen partners & 2. Fourteen partners & project mgr. recruited project mgr. recruited 3. Protocol designed 3. Protocol designed 4. New state law 4. New state law 5. Pilot recovery work 5. Pilot recovery work 6. New funding for 2004 6. New funding for 2004
A volunteer Commission created and leads the Derelict Gear project
Project area - shaded The target area is part of an inland sea comprised of major shipping, oil tanker, US Navy and ferry lanes, with over one million residents. It is also a major salmon habitat, now listed as Endangered Species. SEATTLE SEATTLE SEATTLE
First recorded man-made marine debris in Puget Sound - 1880 Whereupon, in 2002, the first effort to clear such Whereupon, in 2002, the first effort to clear such detritus was undertaken. detritus was undertaken.
PROJECT CORE: ‘No Fault,’ goal is recovery PERMIT ISSUES ~ Resolve this issue first PROBLEM : Two types of gear involved & two techniques necessary for recovery 1. Nets - Phase One developed safety and recovery protocols for Diver-performed removal of designated nets. Surface gases and redundant safety procedures employed, with support vessels – e.g., purse seines. 2. Crab & Shrimp Traps - Different threats to more species; location techniques vary, some success with side-scan sonar. Separate recovery protocols, mechanical tools. Special political (Tribal) & technical issues to consider.
WHERE ARE THE NETS? WHERE ARE THE NETS? The Gear Database process generated a The Gear Database process generated a chart of known Northern Puget Sound chart of known Northern Puget Sound with all derelict gear sites ID and with all derelict gear sites ID and geospatially located -by GPS- ranked for geospatially located -by GPS- ranked for removal or other remediation. removal or other remediation. As new sites become known, the maps can As new sites become known, the maps can include the new datasets. include the new datasets.
Mapped net sites are not made public
Map of Gear Reported September 2002
Finally, work underwater… www.nwstraits.org/derelict_gear
NET RECOVERIES Divers free large seine, June, 2002
The team performed perfectly
The media attended opening day
Future issues include thorough biological assessments of sites and recovered species.
PAGE ONE - Friday, June 21, 2002 'Ghost nets' haunt waters: Divers gingerly remove abandoned fishing gear that endangers marine life By Eran Karman Seattle Times staff reporter REID HARBOR, San Juan County — As killer whales breached nearby and curious seals checked out the
Next: Recovery of Traps and Pots Next: Recovery of Traps and Pots Next: Recovery of Traps and Pots
Task: Locate abandoned traps and pots
Sidescan sonar image of pots Sidescan sonar image of pots Sidescan sonar image of pots
In September, 2003, this project was awarded the In September, 2003, this project was awarded the 2003 Coastal America Partnership Award by 2003 Coastal America Partnership Award by President Bush; presented in Seattle at September’s President Bush; presented in Seattle at September’s Estuarine Research Foundation (ERF) Conference Estuarine Research Foundation (ERF) Conference New grants from the State’s New grants from the State’s Salmon Recovery Board Salmon Recovery Board and NOAA/NMFS will and NOAA/NMFS will expand this work in 2004 expand this work in 2004
Participating Agencies & Organizations Phase One Participants : National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration/National Marine Northwest Straits Commission Fisheries Service – primary sponsors Washington Department of Fish and ~Seven County Wildlife Marine Resources Committees Washington Department of Natural Clallam Resources Island Washington Department of Ecology Jefferson Washington Sea Grant Program S an Juan Puget Sound Action Team S kagit Tulalip Tribes S nohomish U.S. Navy Whatcom U. S. Army Corps of Engineers U. S. Coast Guard Project Managed by: Natural Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Resources Consultants, Inc. Commercial fishing and diving Private foundations
I n Memoriam -- I n Memoriam -- Doug Williams Doug Williams
We have bent these waters to do our work, only to find out they already had jobs. -- Gary Wood
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