Thousands of lost crab pots in Puget Sound harm marine wildlife

InvestigateWest

Pictured is a derelict crab pot--one of 57 crab pots containing a total 171 live and dead Dungeness crab recovered by divers in a four-day effort. It took place a few years ago at Puget Sound's Port Susan Bay. According to the Stillaguamish tribe, nearly 24,000 crabs may be killed by derelict gear each year in Port Susan alone. (Photo source: Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians Natural Resource Department)

Sitting on the floor of Puget Sound are thousands of pounds of derelict fishing gear. Lost fishing gear in a large body of water doesn’t really sound like a big deal at first, but when looked at a bit more closely the effects can be shocking.

“Derelict fishing gear in Puget Sound is a problem. There is an estimated – maybe – 15,000 crab pots that have been lost in the last 5 years in Puget Sound,” Rep. Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island, told the Agriculture and Natural Resources committee earlier this week, in support of House Bill 2593.

If passed, the measure would direct the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to solicit a $2 donation every time a recreational fishing license is purchased.

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Tags: derelict crab pots, Puget Sound, Christine Rolfes, Bainbridge Island, Washington, Department of Fish and Wildlife + add tags

Why not all?
Why are no fees to be assessed on commercial crab fishers? Are we to believe only recreational pots are littering the Puget Sound? Or is this a case of legislation being imposed on the only party - apparently - without representation in Olympia: the average citizen?
Comment by Blue Light 7 months ago	( 0 votes) ( report abuse ) ( reply )

Lost Crab Gear
Correct me if I am wrong but, isn't it a requirement to have a destruct devise on each trap that allows trapped crabs to escape if a trap is lost?. Here in California we use something called "rotten cotton" which is #120 untarred cotton twine. The cotton twine rots out every 6 to 8 weeks and allows the lid of the trap to open releasing any crabs that cannot escape from the escape rings. Escape rings are two 4 1/4" stainless steel rings incorporated into the design of each trap that allow crabs that are to small to be taken a place to escape. One such ring is seen in the picture you have provided at the very top of the trap the gentleman is holding. While traps are lost each season due to many reasons, it does not mean the crabs contained within these lost traps are going to die. If a destruct devise is used the mortality is nil. Dungeness crab fishing has proven to be one of the most sustainable fisheries along the West coast. With size, sex, and season as the primary management tool, Dungeness crab have provided the public with reliable access to one of the West coasts finest resources. Granted there are natural cycles of abundance but these cycles are usually localized and abundance is found elsewhere along the coast. I wholeheartedly support the retrieval of "lost gear" as would those who lost the gear, by whatever means. The difficulty arises as to what to do with the gear once it has been retrieved. Will it go back to the original owner at a cost, will it be auctioned off, or will it be destroyed. I would certainly hope all efforts would be made to offer the first rights of refusal to the owner of the property. If the owner refuses to claim the gear I believe an auction would be an equatable means of balancing the cost of retrieval. Please understand, no one wants to loose gear ...... It happens.
Comment by Ed Tavasieff 7 months ago	( 0 votes) ( report abuse ) ( reply )